Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Six national waterways projects have been identified by the Center as viable for the transportation of passengers and goods as well as the development of cruise tourism in Odisha. According to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and Techno-Economic Feasibility Study of the National Waterways, six national waterways in Odisha have been determined to be viable for the movement of passengers and cargo following consultation with the Odisha government, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal wrote in a response to the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
With an annual cargo carrying capacity of 30 MMTPA, the National Waterway-5 has been determined to be a viable option for the construction of infrastructure for coal evacuation through Talcher coalfields and linkage to the Pankapal Industrial area with the ports of Dhamra and Paradip, according to the Sonowal.
“There will be a provision of floating jetty along with navigational aids for promoting river cruise tourism across Bhitarkanika forest in the proposed National Waterway-14 in Baitarni River. The National Waterways-22 over Birupa-BadiGenguti-Brahmani River System has been found to be technically and economically viable. The national waterway will have the necessary infrastructure like floating jetties at each site, fairway and navigational aids to promote river cruise tourism connecting the ‘Diamond Triangle’ of the “Ratnagiri-Udayagiri-Lalitgiri” Buddhist monastery circuit.
According to the minister, in order to encourage river cruise tourism from Hidden Beach (Chandipur) to Balasore city, the National Waterway-23 over the Buddhabalanga River system would be outfitted with the necessary infrastructure, including floating jetties at two points and navigational aids.
The National Waterway-64 over the Mahanadi River will also be maintained to Class-VII standards, which allow for the carriage of 2000 DWT vessels. Additionally, passenger jetties and navigational aids will be provided for the Bahakud-Musadia ferry service. Additionally, in order to encourage river cruise tourism from Pantei Ghatto Bichitrapur Mangroves, the Husandeswara Temple, and the nearby Digha Sea Beach, the National Waterway-96 over the Subarnarekha River would have the required infrastructure, including floating jetties at three sites and navigational aids. The Minister added that the Inland Waterways Authority of India has started the process of establishing a fixed jetty on the Mahanadi River (National Waterway-64) on behalf of IFFCO.
