Sajan Jindal’s JSW Group is eyeing Odisha in a big way. 

And interestingly the Chief Minister has also shown keen interest towards the Group. 

Naveen Patnaik’s interest in this Group is primarily because JSW Group has the reputation of taking the people to their side and acquiring land without much hassle. 

Sources said that Mr.Jindal has proposed to invest in Steel, Power and Port sector in Odisha. 

He sees Bichitrapur as the base, where lies Odisha’s one of the top sea beach, Talasari, star attraction for tourists. 

Bichitrapur in Balasore district has been recently declared as a new minor port. 

Till date 14 ports have been declared by the Government of Odisha in Commerce & Transport Department. 

BVJK Sharma, Joint Managing Director of the JSW Infrastructure Limited (JSWIL) recently presented the proposal to the Chief Minister for a deep water port at Bichitrapur with an investment of Rs.2400 crore. 

Captain Sharma is heading JSWIL, which is part of the diversified JSW group. 

JSW Infrastructure recently started operations at its Jaigarh port in the western coast of Maharashtra, with a capacity to handle 10 million tons of cargo.
So they are eyeing Eastern Coast and Bichitrapur has provided the scope for it, said an official. 

Earlier, as per the port policy announced by the Odisha Government in 2004, thirteen locations were notified for the development of ports. 

Those locations were Goplapur (Ganjam district), Bahuda Muhan (Sonapatipur) in Ganjam district, Palur (Ganjam). 

Bali Harchandi (Puri), Astaranga (Puri), Jatadhari Muhan (Jagatsinghpur), Barunei Muhan (Kendrapada), Dhamra (Bhadrakh), Chudamani (Bhadrakh), Inchuri (Balasore), Chandipur (Balasore), Bahabalpur (Balasore), Subarnarekha mouth (Kirtania) in Balasore district. 

Gopalpur is being developed by OSL Group, while Dhamra Port construction is going in full swing with a Tata Steel and Larsen & Tubro JV. 

Navayuga Group is investing in Astaranga Port, while Creative Port Development Company is developing the Kirtania port in Balasore district. 

Aditya Birla Group is developing Chudamani port in Bhadrakh district. 

At least 3 major investors including Adani Group is eyeing for Barunei Muhan port in Kendrapda. 

With more and more investors showing interest in development of deep sea ports, the Government of Odisha toys the idea to go for international bidding for these ports to find out developers, said sources.