Paradeep also spelled Paradip (originally Paradweep, also spelled Paradwip), is a major seaport city and municipality, from Jagatsinghpur city in Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha, India. Paradeep Municipality was constituted as an NAC on 27 September 1979 and converted into a Municipality on 12 December 2002. Paradeep (210 15’ 55-44" N 806 40’ 34-62" E) is the main outlet and inlet of the seaborne trade of the eastern port. It also signaled the economic development of the state, giving impetus to trade and commerce. It has become the gateway of Odisha to the International community. Paradeep has become a hub of industrial activities. Industries like IFFCO, Paradeep Phosphates Limited, CARGILL, IOCL, BPCL, HPCL, Carbon, etc. have been established here. From an administrative viewpoint, Paradeep N.A.C. was constituted vide H & U.D. Department Notification No. 31169, dated 27 September 1979, and became functional with effect from 18 September 1980. Subsequently, Paradeep N.A.C. was upgraded to Municipality under section 424 of the Odisha Municipal Act. 1950 vide H. & U.D. Deptt Notification no. 47302/HUD, dated 12 December 2002. The municipality comprises five Revenue Villages, namely Udachandrapur, Chauliapalanda, Sandhakuda, Bijayachandrapur, and Bhitaragarh. Given the increasing population and industrialisation, a proposal to include 15 villages i.e. Paradeep, Garh, Niharuni, Niharuni Kandha, Chouki Matha, Udayabata, Nimidiha, Kotakula, Rangiagarh, Nua Sandhakud, Musadiha, Musadiha Jangle, Boitarkuda, Kaudia, Aganasi, and Nuagarh has been sent to state H. & U.D. Department on 11 October 2007 and District Collector, Jagatsinghpur for inclusion. Paradip is from Cuttack and from Bhubaneswar. Biju Patnaik International Airport is the nearest and only operational commercial airport to reach Paradip. History During the early 17th century, Paradip and its adjoining areas were connected to Cuttack through the Mahanadi river and its branches. Transportation of goods from rural areas to Cuttack was done through waterways via Dhamara and Pattamundai, though slowly discontinued due to silting of the river bed. In 1819, the British constructed a sort of harbour north of the present Paradip site then called False Point. In 1862, the East India Irrigation Company explored the potential of Paradip for the transportation of rice from the area. The importance of Paradip grew during the great famine of 1866 when it was used as the main entry point for importing food materials to the famine-struck area. During the early post-independence period, a minor port came into existence at Paradip in 1958 through the efforts of the State Government.