The central government will invest Rs.2,000 crore for the development of 332 km of inland waterways in Odisha by 2017, officials said Monday.
The project - to be completed in two phases - would provide water transport facilities to the state's prominent industrial hubs.
The first phase of the project comprises a stretch of 201 km while the second phase comprises a stretch of 131 km.
The state government, the Paradip Port Trust and the Dharma Port Company Ltd signed an agreement here Monday on this with the Inland Waterways Authority of India.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said these organisations would work in tandem to develop the inland waterway to connect Talcher, Kalinga Nagar, Dhamra and Paradip.
The state government would provide land free of cost and all possible assistance to fast tract the project, he said.
