PM Modi Inaugurates India's First Multi-Modal Inland Waterways Hub In Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, vember 12 inaugurated India's first multi-modal terminal on river Ganges in his parliamentary constituency here and received country's first container cargo transported on inland waterways from Kolkata.  first consignment containing food and bever h set sail from Kolkata in last week of October 2018. 

prime minister was accompanied by Uttar Presh Chief Minister Yogi ityanath, Union Transport, Highways, and Shipping Minister Nitin Gkari and BJP state president Mahendra Nath Pandey, who is also MP of neighboring Chandauli Lok Sabha constituency.

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This is first of four multi-modal terminals being constructed on  National Waterway-1 (river Ganga) as part of World Bank-aided Jal Marg Vikas project of  Inland Waterways Authority of India.   

total estimated cost of project is Rs 53.6918 billion, which will be equally shared between Government of India and World Bank.

Earlier, upon his arrival here, prime minister was given a detailed presentation of waterways and watched a short film on viability of waterways between Varanasi in Uttar Presh and Haldia in West Bengal.

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According to an official statement, Centre's Jal Marg Vikas Project aims at developing stretch of river between Varanasi and Haldia for navigation of large vessels weighing up to 1,500 tonnes to 2,000 tonnes.

Its objective is to promote inland waterways as a cheap and environment-friendly means of transportation, especially for cargo movement. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is project implementing ncy.

project entails construction of three multi-modal terminals (Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia), two inter-modal terminals, five roll-on-roll-off (Ro-Ro) terminal pairs, new navigation lock at Farakka in West Bengal, assured depth dredging, integrated vessel repair and maintenance facility, differential global positioning system (DGPS), driver information system (RIS), river training.