Odisha Signs ₹12,200 Crore MoU to Develop Two National Waterways for Bulk Cargo Logistics.

The Odisha government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the development and operation of two national waterways, National Waterways-5 (NW-5) and National Waterways-64 (NW-64), according to an official statement.

The agreement was inked recently during India Maritime-2025 in Mumbai among the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the Odisha government, Paradip Port Authority (PPA), and Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL).

The project, with an estimated investment of ₹12,200 crore, aims to facilitate the seamless transportation of coal and other bulk cargo from Talcher coalfields to Paradip and Dhamra ports via inland waterways. NW-5 spans Odisha and parts of West Bengal, connecting the Talcher-Dhamra stretch of the Brahmani river, the Matai river, the East Coast Canal, and the Mahanadi delta, while NW-64 runs along the Mahanadi from Paradip to Cuttack.

The initiative is expected to reduce logistics costs, decongest road and rail networks, and promote environmentally friendly transport. It will be implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle, Inland Waterways Consortium of Odisha Ltd (IWCOL), with IWAI responsible for project proposals, statutory clearances, and the development of terminals, barrages, and navigation systems.

The MoU marks a major step towards leveraging Odisha’s riverine system to boost sustainable freight movement and regional economic growth.