OREANDA-NEWS. April 24, 2015. An office has been opened in Bhubaneswar for the development of National Waterway No.5, in March, 2015 which will coordinate with all the stakeholders, including the State Government.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Government of Odisha, Paradip Port and Dhamra Port Co. Ltd. was signed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) on 30th June, 2014 for developing the commercially viable stretch of 332 km of NW-5 (588 km) in two phases.

The MOU incorporates the development of 201 km stretch of Pankopal/ Jakodia to Paradip and Dhamra in phase - I and an 131 km stretch between Talcher and Pankopal/ Jakodia in the phase - II. M/s WAPCOS Ltd. has been engaged to revise the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the stretches in question.

This information was given by Minister of State for Ministry of Shipping, Shri Pon Radhakrishnan in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.