Every year, Odisha commemorates its ancient maritime traditions through the grand Balijatra festival on the banks of the Mahanadi River in Cuttack. Celebrating the historic voyages of the Sadhabas—mariners who once sailed on Boitas to Southeast Asia—the event echoes the state’s seafaring legacy with countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.Despite a decline in maritime prominence due to colonial disruption and shifting trade routes, Odisha’s seafaring spirit has endured. This legacy now underpins the vision of a ‘Viksit Odisha’, aligning heritage with economic ambition.Globally, maritime economies signal logistical strength, with over 80 per cent of freight moved by sea in developed nations. In contrast, just 10 per cent of India’s freight uses waterways, despite a 7,500 km coastline and more than 200 ports. Encouragingly, port efficiency has improved significantly—average ship dwell time in India now matches that of Singapore and outperforms the United States.Launched in 2015, the Government of India’s Sagarmala Programme aims to revitalise ports, connectivity, and coastal development. This vision is further advanced by the Maritime India Vision 2030, which sets out 150 initiatives across infrastructure, logistics, innovation, and sustainability.Odisha, with a 480 km coastline (updated to 574.7 km as per the Ministry of Home Affairs), is pivotal to India’s maritime economy, handling about 13 per cent of the nation’s cargo. Its major ports—Paradip, Dhamra, and Gopalpur—are logistics powerhouses. Paradip alone handled 140 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo in FY 2024, making it India’s busiest port, while Dhamra and Gopalpur added over 55 MMT, largely from bulk commodities.To steer this growth, the Odisha Maritime Board was established to ensure streamlined policy implementation with a focus on single-window clearances, inclusive development, and sustainability. The 2022 Port Policy aims to attract private investment through models like BOOST (Build, Own, Operate, Share, and Transfer), with new ports at Astarang and Subarnarekha underway.However, challenges persist. Poor integration between ports, rail, and road; inefficiencies in cargo evacuation; regulatory hurdles; limited transshipment facilities; and underinvestment all hinder progress. Addressing these is vital for sustained growth, requiring institutional reform and stable policy.Recent decisions reaffirm Odisha’s commitment to port-led development. These include:Approval of a captive jetty at Jatadhari MuhanChange in management at Gopalpur port to attract investmentCollaboration with Paradip port for shipbuilding and repairs at Mahanadi Riverine PortCreation of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to develop National Waterways No. 5 and 64A strategic roadmap has also been laid out to position Odisha as a leading maritime hub, with plans to:Develop economic corridors, petrochemical hubs, and green hydrogen projectsUpgrade connectivity infrastructure including roads and railEnhance port capacity through new facilities at Palur, Inchudi, and expansion of existing portsEstablish jetties for fishing communities and promote sustainable marine food systemsRevitalise inland water transport via NW-5 and NW-64 for cost-effective cargo movementBuild maritime skills through enhanced training at Chandbali and a proposed academy at Paradip under the 'Skilled in Odisha' initiativePromote cruise tourism, seaplane services, and beachside destinationsStrengthen coastal security and strategic Indo-Pacific cooperationThrough these initiatives, Odisha is not just preserving its rich maritime heritage but shaping it into a cornerstone of its future economic strength.