Bhubaneswar: In a major boost to the state’s maritime ambitions, Paradip Port has been officially designated a “mega port” by Centre under the provisions of the newly enacted Indian Ports Act, 2025, placing it among an elite group of the country’s largest and most strategically significant ports.Ministry of ports, shipping and waterways on Friday issued a notification declaring four ports as mega ports after an assessment of prescribed benchmarks. The three others are Deendayal Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Mundra Port — the only non-major port in the category.The Paradip port handles large volumes of coal, iron ore, fertilisers, crude oil and other bulk cargo, serving as a critical logistics hub for eastern and central India.Officials said the “mega port” status acknowledges Paradip’s expanding cargo-handling capability, modern infrastructure and strategic location near Bay of Bengal. The move is expected to strengthen the port’s ability to attract investments, enhance operational efficiencies and support future infrastructure expansion further.Paradip Port Authority chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit said that the designation of Paradip as a “mega port” is a significant milestone that reinforces its role as a key maritime gateway. “It will help strengthen infrastructure, improve operational capabilities and facilitate growth in maritime trade,” he said.Paradip has witnessed steady growth over the years, backed by capacity augmentation, mechanisation and improved connectivity to mineral-rich hinterlands, sources said.