Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Odisha, considered the maritime gateway of eastern India, has once again made waves on the national stage by winning the ‘Best Stall’ award at India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025 in Mumbai. The recognition celebrates the state’s outstanding showcase of maritime heritage, innovation, and sustainable development vision. The award was presented by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, and received by Bidhan Chandra Ray, Additional Secretary, Commerce & Transport Department; Padmalochan Roul, Director, Ports & Inland Water Transport; and Capt. Sushant Bag, Chief Nautical Officer, Odisha Maritime Board.
The booth, which was created with the theme “Odisha – Voyage of Heritage and Hope,” was curated by the Odisha Maritime Board and the Commerce & Transport Department. From the ancient Boita Bandana and Kalinga shipbuilding traditions to the contemporary age of port-led growth, interior waterways, cruise tourism, shipbuilding clusters, and blue economy initiatives, it imaginatively tracked the State’s nautical evolution, according to an official release.
Visitors, dignitaries, and business executives all expressed their admiration for the Odisha Stall’s captivating narrative and creative design, which skillfully merged the state’s illustrious nautical history with its ambitious development plan. According to officials, the honor at IMW 2025 strengthens the state’s goal of guiding towards a “Viksit Odisha, Viksit Bharat” and underscores Odisha’s expanding position in India’s marine revolution, where tradition meets innovation.
