Bhubaneswar: The Directorate of Ports & Inland Water Transport signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways, and Coasts (NTCPWC), IIT Madras, to prepare the Odisha Maritime Perspective Plan (OMPP).
The signing was witnessed by Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary of the Commerce and Transport Department, who emphasized the importance of this initiative and welcomed all stakeholders during the kick-off meeting.
The meeting served as a platform to gather insights and suggestions from a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from government departments, transport and logistics sectors, maritime experts, port operators, and Boat Owners’ Associations.
The aim was to identify grassroots-level concerns, challenges, and requirements for developing a comprehensive maritime strategy for Odisha.
Prof. Kantharaj Murali, Dean of NTCPWC, IIT Madras, presented an overview of the proposed OMPP sections through a detailed PowerPoint presentation. Following the presentation, attendees were encouraged to share their feedback and perspectives on the plan’s framework.
To ensure thorough stakeholder engagement, feedback forms and copies of the presentation were distributed to all participants. The inputs gathered will be reviewed and incorporated into the final version of the Odisha Maritime Perspective Plan, which aims to enhance the state’s maritime infrastructure and policies.
