INTRODUCTION :

Paradip is one of the Major Ports of India and late Sri Biju Patnaik, the then Chief Minister of Orissa, is the founder father of Paradip Port. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, laid the foundation stone of the Port on 3rd January 1962 near the Confluence of river Mahanadi and Bay of Bengal. Government of India took over the management of the Port from the Government of Orissa on 1st June 1965. INS "INVESTIGATOR" had the privilege of maiden berthing in the Port on the 12th March, 1966.

The Port was declared open by Mr. Peter Stambolic, Prime Minister of Yugoslavia on the same day. Government of India declared Paradip as the Eighth Major Port of India on 18th April 1966 making it the FIRST MAJOR PORT in the East Coast commissioned after independence.The Port of Paradip, an autonomous body under the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 functioning under Ministry of Shipping is administered by a Board of Trustees set up by the Government of India headed by the Chairman, PPT. The trustees are nominated by Government of India from various users of the Port such as shippers, ship owners; Government Departments concerned and also port labour. The day - to - day administration is carried out under general supervision and control of the Chairman, assisted by the Deputy Chairman and other departmental heads. 

LOCATION :
Paradip port is situated 210 nautical miles south of Kolkata and 260 nautical miles north of Visakhapatnam. 

Latitude 20° - 15'-55.44" N
Longitude 86° -40'-34.62" E

METEOROLOGICAL DATA :

PORT ESTATE :
The Port estate extends over a sprawling area comprising about 6,382 acres. Some portion of the Port land has been leased out for cargo related activities, construction of office/residential buildings of users directly connected with the activities of the Port. The Port Trust also allot residential quarters, shopping units and premises for offices of Port users, Central and State Government authorities on deposit of prescribed license fees. Port has also constructed 8 nos. of Cyclone shelters at different locations of Paradip Port for the People of Paradip. 

PORT TOWNSHIP :
The Port Township has a population of more than One lakh. The Port Trust staff colonies are located in Madhuban, 'V' Point and Atharabanki areas. The Port has also provided required accommodation for office/residence purposes to various users of the Port in the staff colonies. 

HOSPITAL :
The Port Trust has a modern 64 bedded hospital with adequate number of qualified doctors and specialists for treatment of Port Trust employees and their dependants. Port users, shipping agents and others based at Paradip Port are also permitted to use the hospital facilities. The port also runs a First -aid Centre inside the Cargo Berth area. The Hospital is an ISO certified, and equipped with an authorized bio-medical disposal system. In addition, there is a 20 bedded hospital at Atharbanki run and administered by the Govt. of Odisha.

SCHOOLS & COLLEGES :
There are two Schools i.e. one High School and one ME School operated by Paradip Port. One Central School fully subsidized by the Port Trust and an English Medium School run by Bethany Convent also operate at Paradip. Apart from these, Saraswati Vidhya Mandir , Municipal High School , DAV public school, Municipal Girls High school, Sanjay Gandhi High School and a number of other schools are imparting education at Paradip Port. There is one Port aided School located at "V" Point as K.G. School. A number of Schools for Dance & Music are also functioning in the Port town. Paradip College offering degree course in Arts, Science as well as Commerce with honours subjects is available at Paradip Port.

CONNECTIVITY :
The Port is connected with Broad-gauge electrified Railway system of the East-Coast Railway and is also served by National Highway No.5A and State Highway No.12. Port is well connected with Cuttack and Bhubaneswar with bus & train services. The Port is also connected by bus routes to the steel city of Rourkela and to the holy town of Puri & Konark. The Port is connected through lease line and broadband to other Ports, Ministry and IPA. Reliance, BSNL, Airtel, TATA Indicom etc. have cellular services at Paradip Port. 

MARKET, HOTELS & RESTAURANTS, ENTERTAINMENT :
The Port has a good market complex along with many hotels and restaurants. Besides, the Port Trust has one eighteen- suit guesthouse overlooking the sea at Sector-21. Situated at the confluence of river Mahanadi, Paradip is a vibrant township and an island of excellence. It offers not only an efficient Deep Sea Port but also a few sights of tourist interest such as "Muhan" at Sector- 21, the 'Cavana' and the white sands of the Light House beach, the musical fountain at the sylvan gardens of "Smruti Udyan", the Officer's club and Gopabandhu Stadium with swimming pool plus a host of other facilities, the 'fourteen-Holes' Golf course and last but not the least, is the famous Paradip hospitality. A maritime museum and an aquarium equipped with 28 tanks consisting of a variety of marine and fresh water species of fish are the latest attractions for the visitors to the Port.