Centre to develop 332km waterways in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, June 30 (IANS) The central government will develop 332km of inland waterways in Odisha at an investment of Rs.2,000 by 2017, officials said Monday.

The project - to be completed in two phases - would provide water transport facilities to the state's prominent industrial hubs.

The first phase of the project comprises of a stretch of 201 km while the second phase comprises of a stretch of 131 km.

The state government, the Paradip Port Trust and the Dharma Port Company Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding here Monday on this with the Inland Waterways Authority of India.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said these organisations would work in tandem to develop the inland waterway to connect Talcher, Kalinga Nagar, Dhamra and Paradip.

The state government would provide land free of cost and all possible assistance to fast tract the project, he said.