New Delhi, Nov 18: A decision to undertake development of National Waterways (NWs) declared under The National Waterways Act, 2016 is based on Techno Economic Feasibility Study and Detailed Project Report, commissioned on each of them, by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). This Act has been enforced with effect from April 12, 2016. It has been decided to undertake development of 37 NWs in the next three years. Specified stretches of River Sutlej and Beas have been included in the list of declared NWs as NWs No. 17 and 98 respectively.
The significant cost saving shows that the promotion of Inland Water Transport (IWT) would have positive impact on reduction of overall logistics cost. On NW-1 (River Ganga), works have been awarded under the Jal Marg Vikas Project for construction of Multimodal Terminals at Varanasi and Sahibganj and Navigational lock at Farakka and award of work for Multimodal Terminal at Haldia is in the final stage. On NW-2 (River Brahmaputra), Ro-Ro transportation between Dhubri and Hatsingamari has commenced and slipway facilities are being constructed at Pandu. Normal development works are ongoing on NW-3. On NW-4, award for tender for dredging of shoals between Vijaywada and Muktiyala on River Krishna is in the final stage. On NW-5, work for development of fairway in the non-tidal stretch between Erada and Padanipal has been awarded. Tendering for award for projects on the remaining 32 NWs to be undertaken in the next three years will begin from Nov 2016 and go on till Dec 2018.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Shipping Shri Pon. Radhakrishnan in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha yesterday.
Source: PIB
