Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Following a high-level assessment of safety precautions led by the Principal Secretary of the Commerce & Transport Department on Sunday, the Odisha government mandated that all passengers aboard boats operating in the State’s interior waters wear life jackets. The meeting thoroughly examined current safety procedures in light of recent capsizing occurrences. Senior representatives from the Odisha Maritime Board (OMB), Tourism Department, Fisheries & ARD Department, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department, and other line departments participated.
Officials were instructed to make sure that safety regulations were strictly followed, including requiring all passengers to wear life jackets as they boarded. Additionally, it was mandated that all operative boats have fire safety equipment, life buoys, and sufficient life jackets that fit passenger capacity in accordance with established guidelines. The Chair directed authorities to conduct routine surprise inspections of boat operations and emphasized the necessity for increased enforcement. Operators found to be overloading vessels or neglecting to guarantee adherence to safety regulations would face severe penalties.
The government’s Sahid Baji Rout Noujatra Suraksha Yojana, which provides life-saving gear like life jackets, life buoys, and fire extinguishers to government boats at no cost and to private operators at a 95% discount, was also emphasized at the conference. To provide thorough safety coverage for all inland water transport activities, a coordinated strategy combining many departments—including Fisheries & ARD, Tourism, and Forest & Environment—was also highlighted.
The Odisha government reaffirmed its dedication to passenger safety, stating that protecting the lives of residents and visitors utilizing inland waterways is still of utmost importance. In order to uphold stringent safety regulations on all routes, operators and passengers have been requested to fully comply with authorities.
