The Payra Sea Port began providing limited services from August 13 last following its inauguration by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Full-fledged function of the port is scheduled to begin from 2018. The government has a plan to develop it into a deep sea port in the future.
 Payara, the third sea port of the country, is located on the west bank of Rabnabad Channel at Kalapara in Patuakhali. The site of the port has been selected considering its physical advantages. Six thousand acres of land will be required which was easily available. The place is two metres above the sea level and does not go under water in the rainy season. It is connected with the hinterland by roads and rivers too.
Pyara will reduce the pressure of handling cargo on Chittagong and Mongla sea ports. In addition to container handling, coal is likely to be the second base cargo for the port; a huge amount of coal will have to be imported for coal-based power plants. A Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal will be set up to handle import of LNG. There is also a prospect of establishing an oil refinery. To make Payra port more functional, the government needs to connect it to Dhaka by roads, waterways and railways.
The uniqueness of Payra sea port is that foreign ships will be able to come here directly as it is located centrally. The depth of Payra sea port is 15 metres compared to 9.2 metre that of Chittagong port. Mother vessels will be able to anchor here due to its depth. This will facilitate Bangladesh to handle large vessels which it cannot do now.
When the Pyara sea port will get fully operationlised, areas adjacent to it will witness an investment boom. Private entrepreneurs will hopefully set up plants in the southern region. The port will certainly make the poor south-west region more vibrant.
Additionally, the port will facilitate for regional connectivity - a much cherished dream of the present government a reality that is cherished by the present government. The north-east Seven Sisters region of India, and landlocked Nepal and Bhutan will find Pyara sea port very useful for conducting their sea-borne trade.
The writer is Assistant Secretary (Planning and Research) of the FBCCI.
 altap.fbcci@gmail.com
Payra Sea Port will facilitate regional connectivity
Altap Hossain | Published: September 08, 2016 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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