The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has identified six waterways of Odisha as national waterways. While the development of Phase-I of National Waterway-5 is underway, five more waterways are in different stages of study.
IWAI had declared the 588 km river system of Brahmani, Kharsuan, Mahanadi delta river, Matai river along with the East Coast Canal, as the National Waterway-5 in 2008. This waterway is being planned for navigation.
IWAI had signed an MoU with the state government, the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) and Dhamra Port Company (DPCL) on 30 June 2014 for development of Phase-I of the waterway (201 km) which spreads from Jokadia/Pankapal near Kalinga Nagar industrial hub to Dhamra and Paradip ports. In Phase-II, the stretch between Talcher and Jokadia (131 km) will be developed.
The two-phase project with a length of 332 km will be executed at an estimated cost of Rs 2,000 crore. Apart from the National Waterway-5, five more national waterways involving six major rivers of Odisha (Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarini, Birupa, Budhabalanga and Subarnarekha) are being planned for navigation and the techno-economic feasibility studies are being conducted. A detailed project report is being prepared in respect of three projects (National Waterway-14,
National Waterway-64 and National Waterway-96), while two projects (National Waterway-22 and National Waterway-23) are in feasibility study stage. Out of 425 km stretch of Mahanadi from Paradip sea mouth to Sambalpur which has been declared as National Waterway-64 by IWAI, a 98-km stretch of Mahanadi river from Paradip port to Jobra barrage is found to be viable.
Similarly, a 30 km stretch of Subarnarekha (314 km stretch of the river has been declared as National Waterway-96) from the river confluence with the Bay of Bengal to Baliapal-Kamarda Road bridge. This stretch can be developed for fishing and tourism purpose.
A 49 km stretch of Baitarani river (National Waterway-14) is also under study and a detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared according to which the stretch can be used from tourism point of view, though there are no industries on this belt. IWAI has conducted the feasibility study of 152 km stretch of Birupa, Bada Genguti and Brahmani river system (National Waterway- 22) which indicated traffic potential due to presence of steel industries, thermal plants and other industries.