Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the tragic Jabalpur boat capsize that claimed 13 lives, Odisha govt on Sunday instructed all vessel operators in the state to adhere to the safety protocols strictly, failure to which will draw punitive action.The government has directed all operational boats to keep adequate number of life jackets, life buoys and fire safety equipment. “Clear instructions have been issued — every boat must be fully equipped with life-saving gear and adhere to safety standards. Authorities have been instructed to conduct rigorous surprise checks. Strict punitive action shall be taken against operators found overloading vessels or failing to enforce the mandatory wearing of life jackets by all passengers and crew. An awareness campaign is being launched for boat operators and passengers, while policies are being updated in line with modern technical guidelines,” commerce and transport secretary NBS Rajput told. TOI after chairing a high-level meeting.The meeting, which was also attended by the officials from tourism department and directorate of fisheries, was held to review and strengthen safety measures for vessels operating in Odisha’s inland waterways, particularly on Chilika lake and major rivers.Currently, the commerce department operates passenger motor launch services across six water routes in Chandabali and Balugaon sectors. A 20-seater FRP catamaran solar-powered passenger boat is also in service on Chilika lake, offering tourists a safer and more comfortable journey. Besides, a large number of private boats ply on Chilika and other water bodies for tourism purposes.The inland water transport sector is governed by the Odisha Boat Rules, 2004, which mandate boat registration with licensing authorities. District collectors are empowered to enforce these rules, with surveyors (mechanical or civil engineers) tasked to inspect registered boats at regular intervals.However, experts alleged that enforcement has often been lax. “Many boats on Chilika lake and major rivers operate in unsafe conditions. Safety protocols are rarely followed amid irregular inspections. Many fishing boats are illegally transporting tourists on Puri sea in the name of adventure tourism,” said PK Swain, a retired police officer.The govt, however, is planning to replace the Odisha Boat Rules, 2004, with a new framework aligned with the Indian Vessels Act, 2021. “We will draft the Odisha Inland Vessels Rules, drawing on expertise from agencies such as National Inland Navigation Institute, Patna,” a commerce department official said.The official added they have introduced a boat information & management system for online registration and renewal of licenses. In 2025 alone, 350 boats were registered and 717 renewed in the state, the official said.Odisha has witnessed several catastrophic boat accidents on Chilika lake, Mahanadi river and other water bodies. Notably, Cricket Association of Bengal president Snehasish Ganguly and his wife Arpita narrowly escaped when their speedboat was struck by a large wave on Puri sea on May 24, 2025.
