Description
GS PAPER I: Indian & World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India & the World.
Context: Rs 110 crores ROPAX Jetty Project to come up on river Dhamra in Odisha.
More about news:
- Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) has accorded administrative approval for sanction of Rs 50.30 crore for developing all-weather ROPAX (Roll-on/Roll-off Passenger)Jetty and allied infrastructure connecting Kaninali in Bhadrak district &Talachua in Kendrapara district, Odisha under the Sagarmala initiative.
- The Government of Odisha will fund another 50% cost of the project.
- This project will reduce travel time for passengers from 6 hours by road to 1 hour by waterway.
- The development of the existing ghat with all-weather ROPAX jetties is being carried out with intent of accommodating boats, launches and other vessels as well as to ply vessel having capacity to carry 10 light Motor vehicles, 20 Motorbikes along with 60 passengers at a time.
- The project will facilitate indirect employment opportunities to locals around Dhamra river and reduce road distance of ~200 km from Talachua to Dhamra.
- This project will enhance the safety of passengers and vehicles with state-of-the-art utility infrastructure.
- The connectivity will increase the commercial and business activities and uplift the socio-economic status of the surrounding region.
About Dharma river:
- Dhamra is a joint stream in Odisha that is formed by the confluence of the Brahmani and Baitarani rivers south of the town of Chandabali.
- It lies in the Bhadrak district and empties into the Bay of Bengal.
- To the north of its mouth is the Dhamra Port and near the mouth is the Gahirmatha sanctuary, a nesting site for olive ridley sea turtles.
- The river mouth is as wide as 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), and it enters the sea through two distinct river channels separated by an island formation called
- The two channels are further separated by another island formation in the sea called Kanika Sands which is approximately 8 kilometres (5 mi) wide.
- The Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary, famous for its estuarine crocodiles lie on the Dhamra estuary.
- Wheeler Island, a DRDO missile launch centre is located off the mouth of the Dhamra in the Bay of Bengal.
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1712209
