BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Dhamra Port Company Ltd (DPCL) and Paradip Port Trust (PPT) for developing the National Waterway (NW)-5.
The project, targeted to be completed in three years, would connect the ports at Dhamra and Paradip with the steel and coal hinterlands at Kalinga Nagar and Talcher respectively, Minister of State for Commerce Ramesh Chandra Majhi said in Assembly on Saturday.
Replying to a question from Prabhat Ranjan Biswal (BJD), the Minister said that in the first phase, 201 km stretch of the waterway will be developed, connecting Jokadia (Kalinga Nagar) with Dhamra and Paradip ports.
In the second phase, another 131 km stretch will be developed from Talcher to Jokadia. The NW-5 will facilitate unobstructed movement of cargo like coal, iron ore, steel and other products. IWAI will develop the waterway with budgetary support from Centre by dredging, repairing/reconstructing weirs, navigational locks and installing navigational aids.
The State Government, apart from giving land to IWAI free of cost, will provide all facilities for early completion of the project, he said.