Bhubaneswar : The Inter Media Publicity Coordination Committee (IMPCC), Odisha region, under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, convened its meeting in Paradip Port Authority board room to strengthen strategic communication, foster inter-departmental synergy, and amplify public awareness regarding Central Government policies, initiatives and welfare schemes across the region.
Addressing the conference as Chief Guest, Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, Paradip Port Authority (PPA), highlighted Paradip’s rapid emergence as one of the nation’s premier industrial and maritime hubs. Underscoring that Paradip Port has achieved the milestone of becoming India’s leading major port in cargo handling capacity, Shri Haranadh unveiled an ambitious roadmap designed to significantly expand the State’s maritime footprint. He detailed the development of a full-fledged satellite port at Bahuda in Ganjam district featuring a 150 million-tonne capacity container terminal, tailored to serve the hinterlands of Odisha, Northern Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, while facilitating broader international trade corridors.
Further elaborating on transformative coastal infrastructure, Shri Haranadh announced plans for a shipbuilding and repair cluster in Kendrapara district, envisaged to act as a major catalyst for local employment and skilled workforce development. To bolster coastal tourism and international connectivity, Paradip Port is also advancing the establishment of a modern cruise terminal in Puri, integrating the world-renowned pilgrimage center into a vibrant maritime tourist circuit alongside Konark and Chilika. He stressed that synchronized multi-agency outreach through institutional mechanisms like the IMPCC is imperative to effectively communicate these developmental milestones and shape informed public discourse.
Presiding over the deliberations, Shri Akhil Kumar Mishra, Additional Director General, Press Information Bureau (PIB) and Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), and Chairman, IMPCC Odisha, emphasized the vital role of empathy and emotional resonance in public communication. He observed that public outreach loses its efficacy when stripped of warmth, genuine connection, and an intuitive understanding of citizen expectations. Shri Mishra highlighted that systematically dismantling information silos between Central Government departments, CPSUs, and media units remains essential to articulating a unified narrative of national progress. He extended his appreciation to the Paradip Port Authority leadership for hosting the conference and providing an effective platform for multi-sectoral collaboration.
The conference witnessed active participation from senior officers representing key Central Government media units, departments, public sector undertakings, and autonomous institutions. The meeting was attended by Dr. Abhishek Mishra, Deputy Director and Head of Regional News Unit, Doordarshan, Bhubaneswar; Dr. Suchitra Samal, Senior Regional Director, Regional Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, GoI, Bhubaneswar; Shri Ashok Kr. Dash, State Director, MY Bharat, Odisha; Shri Rohit Nandeshwar, Assistant Section Officer, MY Bharat, MoYAS; Dr. Satyajit Rath, Scientist-G, CSIR-IMMT, Bhubaneswar; Shri Avijit Pathak, Public Relations Officer, NIT Rourkela; Shri Nirmalya Behera, News Editor, Regional News Unit, Akashvani, Cuttack; Shri Asit Prasad Samal, Sub-Divisional Officer, BSNL, Paradip; Dr. Biju V. N., Assistant Director, MPEDA; Ms. Rojalin Sahoo, Branch Manager, ESIC, Paradip; Shri Bikash Ranjan Dalai, Information Assistant, PIB, Bhubaneswar and Shri Ratikant Nayak, Chief Manager (Corporate Relation & Communication), PPA. The Officers presented the activities and achievements of their respective departments.
The meeting commenced with the welcome address delivered by Shri Pradeep Kumar Choudhury, Member Secretary, IMPCC Odisha region, who also successfully conducted the proceedings. Shri Swadhin Shakti Prasad, Media & Communication Officer, PIB proposed the Vote of Thanks.