Rivers in Odisha have enormous potential for developing quality waterways and this should be exploited to the maximum for long distances, said Governor Dr SC Jamir on Friday.
Inaugurating the first session of ‘logistic Millenium-2014: Avenues, Prospects, Challenges- Port Corridor’ organised by CII-Odihsa here, the Governor said rail links and waterways should be meant for long distances while roads, including expressways, for shorter stretches. Such a balanced modal approach would lower transportation costs, achieve greater efficiency and be more environment-friendly, he viewed.
Dr Jamir said waterways have many benefits because they are the cheapest and least energy-intensive mode of transport. Further, increasing freight capacity on coastal corridors is easier than adding rail and road capacities, he added.Comparing India’s position with the global scenario, Jamir said coastal shipping has been leveraged quite effectively by countries like China and the United States.
Elaborating on India’s position as well as Odisha’s potential, he exhorted private players to invest in this area and added, “The Government of Odisha is keen to have national and international players to develop an action plan for the State and invest accordingly.”
Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said huge investments are coming to Odisha and, hence, this is the right time to provide right infrastructure to the investors. “One of these is the waterways, which should lessen the burden on roads. Our ports and waterways should be such that they should have an edge over others,” he said.
Among others, Paradip Port Chairman Sudhansu Sekhara Mishra, CII president and Nalco CMD Ansuman Das and Dhamra Port CEO Santosh Mohapatra also spoke on the occasion.