Unloading at Paradip

Port activities at Paradip started in 1974. Initially the activities at Paradip port were confined to export of chrome ore/concentrate coming from Sukinda. Few parcels of ferro-manganese exports and small amounts of steel exports were also handled. Tata Steel commenced imports of coking coal, limestone, hot briquetted iron (when required), pig iron scrap, coke, etc. for its steel plant in 1985. Export of ferro-alloys from the Company plants at Joda and Bamnipal was subsequently added. The Company also imported substantial quantities of steel plant equipment through this port for its Modernisation programmes e.g. 'G' Blast Furnace, Hot Strip Mill, L.D.2, etc. since these were very large over-dimensional consignments.

The Tata Steel office at Paradip

Over the last few years, the port management services of Tata Steel are also being extended to external companies/customers. In all, the Paradip unit of Tata Steel is now handling around 1.5 million tonnes of various import and export cargoes. To be able to do this, over the years, the Company has spent Rs. 9 crores on equipment, storage facilities, machines, buildings, office gazettes, etc. Tata Steel has also installed weighing machines for receipt and disposal of materials. Currently, 80 employees are directly involved in the day-to-day activity of port operations Cargo movement from the warehouses to the ships and vice versa (called intra-port transportation) are important activities including Knowledge Centre and a Recreation Centre.

Social welfare activities are also carried out from time to time e.g. blood donation camps. Paradip port also participates every year in the "Kalinga Bail Yatra" at Paradip. Like in all other locations, here too Tata Steel has undertaken extensive free plantation work around the office, housing complex, workshop and weigh bridge inside the port on which, a cum of Rs. 5.5 lakhs has been spent in the last three years.

Through port operations, the Company has contributed Rs. 37 lakhs in the last ten years to the State Government in the form of Sales Tax. The tax paid on account of Income tax and Customs duty during the same period has been Rs. 205 crores.

Tata Steel's activities in Paradip have certainly contributed to the overall development of the port as well as its increased revenue.