As India looks to unlock the potential of its vast coastline and river systems, Odisha is emerging as one of the key states positioning itself at the forefront of water sports development.
While no fresh infrastructure proposal has been cleared recently at the Centre for certain coastal regions like Karnataka, Odisha has already taken proactive steps by approaching the government’s nodal institute for water sports — signalling its intent to expand adventure tourism and skill development in this sector.
Odisha’s Early Move in Capacity Building The National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS–IITTM), which leads training and certification in activities like scuba diving, surfing, parasailing and canoeing, has received interest from Odisha for setting up satellite training centres.
This is significant because such centres:
Build local expertise in water sports
Ensure safety standards are followed
Create employment opportunities in coastal and riverine belts
Odisha’s push aligns with its natural advantage — long coastline, rivers like Mahanadi, and growing tourism circuits.
Beyond Odisha: Other States Join the Race Odisha is not alone. Other regions stepping forward include:
Andaman & Nicobar Islands – already a major water tourism hub
Gujarat – leveraging its coastline for adventure tourism
At the same time, many rivers across India — including Mahanadi (Odisha), Ganga, Godavari, and Kaveri — are already being used for water-based activities by state governments, even without central proposals for all waterways.
Sports Push Adds Momentum The government’s broader push through schemes like Khelo India and the National Sports Development Fund (NSD
Read More