President Droupadi Murmu honours Baliyatra Legacy at Paradip’s Boita Bandana ceremony
The esteemed President of India, Droupadi Murmu, graced the Boita Bandana ceremony organized by the Paradip Port Authority at Paradip. Additionally, she virtually inaugurated a Multi-Modal Logistic Park and laid the foundation stones for a new reservoir, water treatment plant for the Port Township, and a cutting-edge Vessel Traffic Management and Information System.
During her address, President Murmu commended the celebration of Baliyatra, a symbolic boat journey undertaken by merchants to the islands of Java, Sumatra, Bali, and others each year. She emphasized the festival’s significance as a tribute to Odisha’s maritime trade prosperity and a testament to the cultural richness of its people.
Highlighting the historical importance of the sea in enhancing India’s trade, commerce, and international relations, the President underscored the role of coastal states like Odisha in fostering naval commerce. She stressed the need for Indian ports to operate with increased efficiency, aligning with global standards, and applauded the Sagarmala program as a crucial step toward achieving this goal.
President Murmu expressed delight over Paradip Port’s doubled cargo handling capacity in the last decade, foreseeing its ascent to become the largest port on the east coast. Commending the port with the ‘Port of Operational Excellence Award’ at the Global Maritime India Summit – 2023, she expressed confidence in the newly inaugurated Multi-Modal Logistics Park to propel transparent trade development. Additionally, the implementation of the Vessel Traffic Management and Information System (VTMIS) was expected to enhance navigation safety and orderliness at the port.
