Dikhyaa Mohanty 
According to an official announcement, the Odisha government has inked a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction and management of two national waterways. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the Odisha government, the Paradip Port Authority (PPA), and Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) inked the agreement on Tuesday at the India Maritime-2025 in Mumbai, according to the statement. The National Waterways-5 and National Waterways-64 development and operation are covered under the MoU.
According to the statement, it is a significant step in utilizing Odisha’s riverine system for long-term freight transportation and local economic development. According to the project, which is expected to cost Rs 12,200 crore, it would make it easier to move coal and other bulk goods from Talcher coalfields to the ports of Paradip and Dhamra via inland waterways. According to authorities, the NW-64 on the Mahanadi extends from the river mouth at Paradip to Cuttack, while the NW-5 passes through Odisha and portions of West Bengal, linking the Talcher-Dhamra section of the Brahmani, the Matai river, the East Coast Canal, and the Mahanadi delta.
Apart from helping reduce logistics costs, the project would decongest road and rail networks, and promote environment-friendly transportation, the statement said. The project will be implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle Inland Waterways Consortium of Odisha Ltd (IWCOL). IWAI will lead the preparation of project proposals, obtain statutory clearances, and develop critical infrastructure, including terminals, barrages, and navigation systems, it said.
