Odisha’s Paradip leads India’s green port push as maritime sector goes sustainable

India is accelerating its transition towards environmentally sustainable maritime infrastructure, with Odisha’s Paradip Port emerging as a key player in the country’s green port development strategy. Under the Centre’s “Harit Sagar” guidelines and National Green Hydrogen Mission, major ports across India are adopting cleaner technologies, but Paradip’s inclusion as a designated Green Hydrogen Hub places Odisha at the forefront of this transformation.

The Paradip Port Authority has been identified by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy as one of only three major ports in the country to be developed as a Green Hydrogen Hub, alongside Deendayal Port in Gujarat and V.O. Chidambaranar Port in Tamil Nadu. As part of this initiative, the government has approved a ₹797.17 crore project to develop a dedicated green hydrogen and green ammonia handling jetty at Paradip. The upcoming facility, to be built under the public-private partnership model, will have a cargo handling capacity of 4 million tonnes per annum, marking a significant leap in Odisha’s maritime capabilities and its role in clean energy logistics.

Beyond Odisha, Indian ports are undergoing a broader transformation to reduce carbon emissions and modernize operations. Major ports have rolled out several green initiatives, including the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP), which aims to replace conventional diesel-powered tugboats with electric or hybrid alternatives. Work orders for electric tugs have already been placed at key ports such as Deendayal, Jawaharlal Nehru, Visakhapatnam, and V.O. Chidambaranar ports.

Ports across the country are also increasingly relying on renewable energy sources, electrifying port equipment, vehicles, and railway systems, and deploying zero-emission trucks to reduce their carbon footprint. Additionally, onshore power supply systems are being installed, enabling ships to draw electricity while docked instead of running fuel-based engines, thereby cutting emissions significantly.

Complementing these efforts, all major ports are providing shore-to-ship power facilities for smaller vessels, while India is also strengthening environmentally safe ship recycling practices. Under international conventions, incentives worth ₹53.39 crore have been disbursed to 109 ship recycling yards through the Ferrous Scrap Development Fund to promote sustainable recycling standards.

Among the green hydrogen hubs, Deendayal Port has already commissioned a 1 MW green hydrogen plant and allocated large tracts of land for green fuel projects, while V.O. Chidambaranar Port has initiated pilot hydrogen production and green methanol bunkering facilities. However, Paradip’s large-scale infrastructure push underscores Odisha’s strategic importance in India’s clean energy and maritime future.

Overall, the government’s multi-pronged approach signals a decisive shift towards low-carbon, technology-driven port operations, with Odisha playing a central role. The development of green hydrogen infrastructure at Paradip is expected not only to boost industrial growth and trade efficiency but also position the state as a critical hub in India’s emerging green energy ecosystem.