Work is underway on the socio-economic development across three states.
Work is underway on a number of sites for the development of National Waterway-1 (NW-1), for which the World Bank has approved US$375 million loan.
The loan is capacity augmentation of NW-1 (River Ganga) under Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP).
The government is developing NW-1 from Haldia to Varanasi (1,390-km) with the technical and financial assistance of the World Bank at an estimated cost of Rs.5,369 crore.
The project would enable commercial navigation of vessels with capacity of 1,500-2,000 DWT.
The development will have three multi-modal terminals – one each at Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Sahibganj (Jharkhand), and Haldia (West Bengal), two inter-modal terminals – at Kalughat and Ghazipur, a new Navigation Lock at Farakka, five Roll on-Roll off (Ro-Ro) terminals, development of Ferry services at Varanasi, Patna, Bhagalpur, Munger, Kolkata and Haldia and Vessel repair and maintenance facilities.
Construction work has commenced at multi-modal terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj, and a new Navigation Lock at Farakka have been awarded.
The construction of multi-modal terminal at Haldia will begin soon.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone at the Sahibganj multi-modal terminal on 6 April, 2017.
The development also includes proposal for Performance Based Maintenance Dredging Contract for Provision of Least Assured Depth (LAD) of 3 metres between Farakka to Kahalgaon, and Sultanganj to Barh; LAD of 2.5 metres between Barh to Doriganj, and Doriganj to Ghazipur; and LAD of 2.2 metres between Ghazipur to Varanasi.
The development will enable Inland Waterway Authority of India (IWAI) to set up NW-1 River Information Service System, a first time in India. River Information System (RIS) are equipment, hardware and software information technology (IT) related services designed to optimize traffic and transport processes in inland navigation.
JMVP will also support the design and development of low draft vessels capable of carrying up to 2,000 tonnes of cargo in shallower depths.
NW-1 is a waterway of national significance passing through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, serving the major cities of Allahabad, Varanasi, Ghazipur, Bhagalpur, Patna, Howrah, Haldia and Kolkata, and their industrial hinterland including several industries located in the Ganga basin.
The Rail and Road corridors in this region are heavily saturated. Hence, the development of NW-1 would provide an alternative, viable, economical, efficient and eco-friendly mode of transport.
The waterway will act as a catalyst in the socio-economic development of the regions by creating new business and employment opportunities, said a government press note on 21 April 2017. fii-news.com
