Odisha’s Mahanadi and Brahmani declared as National Waterways

The Centre has included Odisha’s Mahanadi and Brahmani rivers and the East Coast Canal in the list of 101 National Waterways for navigation. The decision was taken at the Cabinet Meeting chaired by PM Narendra Modi yesterday.

The decision will boost India’s GDP by opening up business opportunities in the areas of dredging, barge construction, barge operation, terminal construction, terminal operation, storage facilities and tourist cruise.

“Investment in all these business areas will create numerous opportunities for employment and economic development and reduce pressure from the already-overloaded, congested and costlier other surface modes of transport,” a release by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.