Bhubaneswar, Sep 4 (IANS): The Odisha government decided on Thursday to prepare a master plan for comprehensive development of a industrial hub including an industrial park, and fishing harbour at Dhamra port in Bhadrak district.

At a review meeting here, Chief Secretary G.C. Pati directed the state's Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) and the port authorities to prepare a master plan for comprehensive development of the area into a manufacturing hub.

It has been decided to develop the industrial park over an area contiguous to the port and a committee has been set up under Commerce and Transport Secretary Sanjaya Rastogi to prepare the master plan, said an official release.

Pati advised the committee to fasten the process so as to make the land available to entrepreneurs by April 2016.

Informed sources said the cost of developing infrastructure for the proposed zone, which will span 7,500 acres, is pegged at Rs 3,100 crore. While the central government is set to contribute Rs.1,844 crore, the balance Rs.1,256 crore will be borne by the state government.

Pati also directed the commerce and transport department to expedite the process of for second phase expansion of Dhamra Port.

Available data shows that Adani Group-controlled Dhamara Port has achieved 70 percent capacity utilization within last 4 years.

In the current year, the port has handled around 15.45 million tonne of cargo so far and paid near Rs.119 crore as revenue share to the state government, said the release.

Chief Executive Officer of Dhamra Port Subrat Tripathy told media persons that the proposed industrial park at Dhamra has the potential to be developed to a thriving industrial hub in the sectors like edible oil, fisheries, food processing, steel and other manufacturing units.