Odisha’s waterways and bridges may soon get a futuristic safety upgrade, thanks to homegrown innovation. Debendra Pradhan, Co-Founder of Coratia Technologies Pvt. Ltd., met Manoj Ahuja, Chief Secretary of Odisha, at Lokseva Bhawan to discuss how underwater robotics could transform the state’s infrastructure maintenance.
Fresh off a ₹66 crore contract with the Indian Navy to deploy indigenous underwater robotic equipment, the NIT Rourkela-based startup is riding a wave of success. Coratia’s cutting-edge solutions — from civil structure inspections and underwater non-destructive testing (NDT) to bathymetry, sediment analysis, and structural health assessments — promise precision, safety, and efficiency beneath the surface.
The Chief Secretary praised the achievement and urged the company to apply its technology to Odisha’s reservoirs, dams, and aging bridges, ensuring they remain safe and functional for decades to come. “This could be a game-changer for our state’s infrastructure,” he remarked.
Also present was Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Skill Development and Technical Education Department, who highlighted the initiative’s potential to boost technical skills and innovation in Odisha.
With Coratia’s expertise, Odisha could soon lead the way in blending heritage infrastructure with next-gen robotics — safeguarding the state’s lifelines while inspiring a new generation of tech talent.
