Bhubaneswar: The Union Budget’s emphasis on the development of National Waterway-5 (NW-5) will significantly strengthen Odisha’s logistics ecosystem and support sustainable transport, said Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development and Commerce & Transport Departments, on Sunday.
Reacting to the Budget announcement, Padhee said the prioritisation of NW-5 marks a decisive step towards creating a cost-efficient, future-ready, and environmentally sustainable logistics framework in the State.
She said NW-5, which connects Odisha’s mineral-rich hinterland with major industrial centres and strategic ports such as Paradip and Dhamra, will enhance bulk cargo movement while reducing pressure on the existing road and rail networks.
“The development of National Waterway-5 aligns seamlessly with Odisha’s vision of port-led industrialisation and green mobility. The shift of coal, minerals, and steel to inland waterways will reduce logistics costs and contribute substantially to India’s climate and sustainability goals,” said Usha Padhee.
Highlighting the institutional framework, she noted that the Special Purpose Vehicle, Inland Waterways Consortium of Odisha Limited (IWCOL), provides a strong and focused mechanism for time-bound execution through close coordination among the Government of Odisha, the Inland Waterways Authority of India, the Paradip Port Authority, and other key stakeholders.
Padhee further said the project is expected to spur regional economic growth, generate employment across the logistics value chain, and strengthen multimodal connectivity between inland industrial clusters and coastal ports.
“The Union Budget’s emphasis on National Waterway-5 underlines the Government of India’s commitment to resilient infrastructure development and positions Odisha as a key driver in the country’s inland waterways and green logistics transformation,” she added.
