Odisha Charts a Greener Course with Inland Waterways Push at Maritime Week 2025
Mumbai, October 29: At India Maritime Week 2025, the Government of Odisha unveiled its ambitious blueprint to transform the state’s riverine and coastal routes into a cornerstone of sustainable logistics. Speaking at the high-level panel “Navigating Growth: Inland Waterways at the Forefront of Future Transport and Logistics,” Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary of Housing & Urban Development and Commerce & Transport, spotlighted Odisha’s integrated approach to modernising Inland Water Transport (IWT).
Padhee emphasised that inland waterways offer a low-cost, eco-friendly alternative to traditional freight systems, aligning with India’s broader goals of green growth and multimodal connectivity.
Odisha’s strategy includes the development of blue maritime infrastructure and multimodal logistics hubs that seamlessly link ports, rivers, and industrial clusters.
The state is also prioritising public-private partnerships, smart logistics, and circular economy models to rejuvenate underutilised river routes. A thematic session on “Revival of Waterways and the Circular Economy” explored how waste-to-value innovations can be embedded into riverine logistics.
“Odisha’s rivers and coastline have long been lifelines of commerce and culture,” Padhee noted. “We are committed to reviving this legacy through modern, sustainable infrastructure that reduces logistics costs and drives inclusive economic growth.”
The panel featured industry leaders, including Sunil Kumar Singh (IWAI), Harrie de Leijer (Nestra, Netherlands), Pranab Jha (JSW Steel), Capt. Priyaranjan Behera (Ultratech Ports), Pradeep Purohit (Star Cement), Vivek Arya (Rhenus Logistics), and Rajnesh Gogoi (Assam Petrochemicals), who echoed the need for regulatory reforms, standardised vessel design, and streamlined cargo handling to unlock the full potential of IWT.
