Odisha Maritime Board Proposal Gets Odisha Cabinet  Nod

Bhubaneswar: The State Cabinet on Friday approved a proposal on formation of the Odisha Maritime Board for administration, control and management of non- major ports and non-nationalised inland waterways.

The Board will function as the single window facilitator for the overall maritime development of the state. It will provide policy, guidelines and directions for the integrated development of ports and inland water transport keeping in view of country’s security and defence-related concerns. it will take up the survey and techno-economic feasibility studies so as to facilitate private sector investment for the development of ports and port-based industries.

The Board shall provide construction, maintenance and operation of all non-major ports in the state directly or through PPP mode. It will plan and exercise projects including integrated townships for productive use of non-port lands vested in port authorities in the state, regulate and control navigation   within the limits of the port and port approaches in the state, exercise supervision and control over all works relating to ports in the state, provide for stevedoring, landing, shipping or trans-shipping  passengers  and goods between vessels in port and the wharves or docks belonging to or in the possession of the Board; develop, promote, maintain and regulate ferry services and non-nationalized inland water transport system in the state for passengers and goods; prescribe and to collect taxes, duties, fees and charges.

The Board shall be constituted with 12 members with the chief secretary as the chairperson along with representatives of stakeholders departments as well as representatives of the Government of India.

Apart from this, the cabinet approved the proposal on financial restructuring of the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) to permanently settle the old dues of the corporation and the government. Also, the accumulated losses of Rs 169.93 crore will be taken up against the share capital in a phased manner. Once the losses are adjusted OSRTC will have the option to approach the   Financial Institutions for taking up commercially viable projects for better passenger amenities.

The cabinet also approved the amendment to the existing provision of Rule-6(4) of Odisha Police Service (Method of Recruitment and Condition of Service) Rule, 2013 to eliminate the constraints therein and facilitate to get eligible officers of the Odisha Police Service (OPS) for filling up the posts of Superior Administrative Grade in OPS cadre for efficient and smooth police administration.