In a firm push to prevent tragedies on Odisha’s scenic yet vulnerable inland waters, the state government has announced iron-clad enforcement of boat safety rules.
A high-level meeting chaired by the Principal Secretary, Commerce & Transport Department, on Sunday reviewed recent capsizing incidents and directed immediate, uncompromising action against violators.
Senior officials from the Odisha Maritime Board (OMB), Tourism, Fisheries & ARD, Forest, Environment & Climate Change departments and other line agencies attended the meeting. The government has now made it clear: every passenger and crew member must wear a life jacket the moment they step aboard. Boat operators are required to carry life jackets equal to the vessel’s full passenger capacity, along with life buoys and fire-safety equipment as per norms.
To ensure compliance, authorities will launch rigorous surprise checks across rivers, lakes and backwaters. Overloading or failure to enforce life-jacket rules will invite strict punitive action with “zero tolerance.”
Supporting operators, the state is providing life jackets, life buoys and fire extinguishers free of cost to government boats and at a generous 95% subsidy to private operators under the **Sahid Baji Rout Noujatra Suraksha Yojana**. The Principal Secretary has called for seamless coordination among all concerned departments so that no boat slips through the safety net.
The government emphasised that the safety of citizens and tourists who rely on Odisha’s inland waterways remains its top priority. Boat operators, passengers and all stakeholders have been urged to cooperate fully and help build a strong culture of safety on water.
