Bhubaneswar, Feb 1: The Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today has placed a strong emphasis on enhancing infrastructure connectivity in Odisha, with a particular focus on developing inland waterways.
As part of a broader initiative to improve logistics and transportation across India, the budget outlines the development of new national waterways, with an important focus on Odisha’s key industrial and port hubs.
Over the next five years, the government plans to operationalize 20 new national waterways, with Odisha playing a central role in this initiative. The project will begin with the development of National Waterway 5, a vital corridor that will connect the mineral-rich regions of Talcher and Angul to industrial centers such as Kalinganagar and key ports like Paradip and Dhamra.
The expansion of these waterways aims to significantly reduce logistics costs, improve freight efficiency, and promote environmentally sustainable transport options. By linking Odisha's strategic industrial zones to the coast, the project is set to bolster the region’s economic development, particularly in the mining, manufacturing, and shipping sectors.
Minister Sitharaman also announced plans for a ship-repair ecosystem to be established in Varanasi and Patna, which will further strengthen inland shipping infrastructure. The government’s efforts to promote coastal and inland shipping will be complemented by initiatives like the Coastal Cargo Scheme, which is designed to encourage coastal shipping and support domestic manufacturing of seaplanes.
"In order to promote environmentally sustainable cargo movement, we will establish new dedicated freight corridors and operationalize 20 new waterways over the next five years, starting with National Waterway 5 in Odisha. This will connect critical mining areas like Talcher and Angul, as well as industrial hubs like Kalinganagar, to major ports including Paradip and Dhamra. Additionally, a ship-repair ecosystem will be created in Varanasi and Patna," Sitharaman announced in Parliament.
