Communication and connectivity are most important signs of development. Let’s examine the status of the State of Odisha using available data on five important aspects – internet connectivity, road communication, railway coverage, airport and seaport and inland water transport, as these are vehicles of fast economic growth. How do we visualize Odisha in 2036 especially on these aspects? Globally, it is found that more connectivity means more development. India’s development must be inclusive of Odisha in a true spirit of federalism.
While the world is entering into increasingly online activities and India has become second largest online market behind China, the internet penetration of Odisha is in bottom of the rank among States in a survey by the Internet and Mobile Association of India in 2019.
Among the States, Delhi and Kerala were heading the list followed by Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, HP, Haryana, TN, Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. In a move, the Government of Kerala has provided free internet facilities to 20 lakh BPL families.
Among the eastern States, Bihar and Jharkhand have been growing faster than others. The lower status and slow progress of Odisha may have many reasons but how to overcome it and move at par with others is a challenge. Though India has the second largest road network in the world behind the USA and currently with an average rate of 30 km road built per day, still the road networking coverage is uneven in India.
Kerala has the highest road density and a very well developed public and private transport system which has been a major advantage for business and public mobility within the State.
Odisha is among ten States, like Maharashtra, UP, Rajasthan, AP, Karnataka, TN, MP, Bihar and Gujarat, having longest roads and length of National Highways.
But in terms of length of States highways, Odisha is not among top ten States. Maharashtra is on the top so far as road networks that include NH, State highway and district roads are concerned.
Other States which feature in the list are Karnataka, UP, TN, Gujarat, MP, and Rajasthan. Road networks are the lifeline of public transport and delay in building the primary infrastructure has a bearing on public life and livelihood. Coming to another important link, it is found that most of the railway establishments in the world are nationalised. Economically deve opedcountries such as the USA, China and Russia are ahead of India in terms of network size. Railway coverage in Odisha has
been a matter of concern as the State continues to be neglected by the Centre in expanding the railway network within the States. The fact is that evena few districts in Odisha have no railway line. This deficiency hascontributed to economic backwardness and regional imbalance ineconomic growth.
The Indian Railways is one of the largest employers in the world whichhas provided employment to cores of families directly and indirectly.So States having less railway line have lower level of employment and economic activities.
The States of UP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, AP andGujarat have largest railway network. The State of UP has the largest 8,763 km route. Odisha has just 2,461 km route which is less thanBihar and WB.
The East Coast Railway having its headquarters inBhubaneswar since 2003 has covered almost all parts of Odisha and thiszone has been contributing sizable revenue but the Railway Ministrydoes not reciprocate in the same way to the railway expansion work inOdisha. The inordinate delay in completion of many ongoing projects
and initiation of new projects has been a matter of huge public discontent in the State. There is little or no hope of completion of these projects in the near future due to lack of political will by both the Centre and the State.
Let’s see the status of airports, seaports and inland waterways in Odisha which are emerging as key factors in current days for public mobility, transportation, business, export and import and many otherworks of economic significance in an increasingly globalised andliberalised environment. Kerala has highest density of internationalairport among States in India with 4 international airports out of 34in India.
The 10 busiest airports in the country are located in Delhi,Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, AP, Gujarat, Goa and Kerala. Outof these, four airports are listed among top 100 airports of the world. The Beijing International Airport of China is the biggest airport of the world. Odisha has only one international airport and 18 airstrips.
Odisha has the natural advantage of 480 km coastline which is length wise higher than Karnataka, WB and Goa. The Pradeep seaport is listed as one of the 12 major ports in the country. Added to this, there are more than 200 minor ports in the coastal States including 14 ports ofOdisha.
Gujarat, TN, AP, Maharashtra and Kerala have higher length ofcoastline than Odisha and therefore they have more natural advantagesbut many of their small ports have been developed recently due topolitical will power and support of the Central Government.
The sea ports have been playing a significant role in the economy of ninecoastal States including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat, TN, AP,West Bengal and Odisha.
Out of these 12 major ports, Maharashtra hastwo and TN has three major ports which are listed among top 40 globalcontainer ports of the world while the port of Shanghai is the largestand busiest port.
China has many major busiest seaports in the world.Ports are becoming economic hubs of export and import activities thatgenerate income and employment and impact quality of life.
Along with seaport, the waterway also is a major advantage forcommunication and transport which is being used by States havingrivers and canals. The National Waterways of 14,500 km has beenoperational over river system of Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP, Bihar, WB, Jharkhand, Goa, Kerala, Assam, AP, Telangana , Chhattisgarh, TN and Karnataka.
But in Odisha though the Mahanadi riverine port and a number of waterway projects have been planned over the river system by the Inland Waterways Authority of India, but none of the project has yet been grounded.
The development of seaports and waterways will boost Odisha’s economy. Six coastal districts like Baleswar, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsingpur, Puri and Ganjam will be directly benefitted.
Theambitious Sagaramala project with 100 per cent direct foreigninvestment, and plan for coastal economic zones and highways in thecoastal areas may be used to end the continued backwardness of Odisha.
