Scope of work to enhance river navigation
The cabinet has approved a World Bank-supported capacity augmentation of navigation on National Waterway-1 (NW-1) at a cost of Rs 5369.18 crore.
The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) Project is expected to be completed by March 2023.
Funding pattern: IBRD loan component: Rs.2,512 crore (US$375 million).
Government of India counterpart funds: Rs.2,556 crore (US$380 million), to be sourced from budgetary allocation and proceeds from bond issue.
Private sector participation under PPP mode: Rs.301 crore (US$45 million).
One of the major problems for a commercially viable and safe navigation on NW-1 is low depth upstream of Farakka due to low discharges from tributaries and difficult hydro morphological characteristics of river Ganga.
A pilot study on the Allahabad-Ghazipur stretch was commissioned by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to find solutions to this problem.
Based on the findings of this study, a proposal for development of NW-1 at an estimated cost of Rs.4,200 crore (US$700 million) was taken up for seeking technical assistance and investment support from the World Bank to the tune of US$350 million in three Phases.
Finance Minister announced JMVP in Budget Speech in July 2014, to enable commercial navigation of at least 1500 tonnes vessels in Ganga.
Implementation strategy/ and targets:
Fairway development through performance based contract for least assured depth of 2.2 metres to 3 metres and bottom channel width of 45 metres, bank protection works, and provisions of navigation aids.
Major Impact: Alternative mode of transport that will be environment friendly and cost effective. The project will contribute in bringing down the logistics cost in the country.
Mammoth Infrastructure development like multi-modal and inter-modal terminals, Roll-on-Roll-off (Ro-Ro) facilities, ferry services, navigation aids.
Beneficiaries: NW-1 development & operations will lead to direct employment generation to the tune of 46,000. Indirect employment of 84,000 will be generated by vessel construction industry.
States/districts covered: States: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal.
Major Districts: Varanasi, Ghazipur, Ballia, Buxar, Chhapra, Vaishali, Patna, Begusarai, Khagaria, Munger, Bhagalpur, Sahibganj, Musrhidabad, Pakur, Hoogly, Kolkata.
Project details and Major Components:
Fairway Development
Construction of the multi-modal terminal at Varanasi.
Construction of the multi-modal terminal at Sahibganj.
Construction of the multi-modal terminal at Haldia.
Construction of an inter-modal terminal at Kalughat .
Construction of an inter-modal terminal at Ghazipur.
Construction of a new navigation lock at Farakka.
Provision of navigational aids.
Construction of five pairs of Roll-on-Roll-off (Ro-Ro) terminals.
Construction of Integrated Ship Repair and Maintenance Complexes.
Provision of River Information System (RIS) and Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS)
Bank Protection works. -/fii-news.com
