The Odisha Forest Department, in partnership with IIT Kharagpur, has launched drone-assisted mangrove planting along the Mahanadi delta. Drone seeders drop pre-formed seed pods into mudflats, covering over 500 hectares in six months. High-resolution imagery is used to monitor sapling survival, and local fisherwomen are engaged as field supervisors. Seedling density and early survival rates of 70% outperform manual methods. The approach accelerates regeneration timelines critical before monsoons. The government plans to deploy the drone network across all mangrove patches in the state under the coastal green resilience initiative.