Union Secretary for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Vijay Kumar on Tuesday reviewed the progress and development of key maritime infrastructure projects in Odisha during a high-level meeting held in the presence of Chief Secretary Anu Garg.
The meeting was attended by representatives of industry stakeholders and various government departments of Odisha. Discussions focused on several strategically important projects, including National Waterway-5 (NW-5), Bahuda Muhan Port, the proposed Shipbuilding Cluster in Kendrapara district and the Cruise Terminal at Puri.
A major focus of the meeting was the development of NW-5, which spans approximately 588 km across Odisha and West Bengal. The waterway is proposed to be developed in two sections. The 332-km riverine section, extending from Talcher to Paradip/Dhamra, lies entirely within Odisha, while the 256-km canal section connects Dhamra to Geonkhali in West Bengal. The project is currently under the approval process.
The meeting reviewed various issues requiring coordination between the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the Odisha Government to facilitate the development and implementation of NW-5. These included State Government participation in project implementation and operations, maintenance of assets, land acquisition and transfer for terminals and hydraulic structures.
Other critical issues discussed included the release of water to maintain Least Available Depth (LAD), development of the Khalpal Navigational Lock, statutory clearances, construction and dismantling of bridges, last-mile road connectivity and shifting of high-tension and low-tension power lines.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg assured the Union Government of all necessary support from the Odisha Government for the timely implementation of the State’s portion of NW-5 and other key maritime infrastructure projects.
The initiatives are expected to strengthen Odisha’s multimodal connectivity, support industrial development, improve cargo transportation through inland waterways and promote cruise tourism in the State.