Centre to spend Rs 5 lakh crore on developing waterways: Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari

KHAMMAM: Centre is planning to spend Rs 5 lakh crore in the next 10 years on developing waterways in the country, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said here today.

Gadkari also said the bill for developing 101 river stretches as waterways would be passed in the Parliament session this month, and that the work on developing the 1,620 km-long waterway between Varanasi and Haldia has begun.

"I am not showing any dream to you. I am among those leaders who have completed work on what they said. There is no shortage of funds for this. When I was minister (in Maharashtra), I took Rs 10 crore from government and raised Rs 4,000 crore from public and completed Rs 8,500 crore work in two-and-half-years.

"I would like to assure you on that basis that in the next 10 years, we will carry out Rs five lakh crore works on these waterways and give a new direction to the country," Gadkari said at the foundation laying ceremony for a road project in Khammam district.

Noting that work on developing the 1,620 km-long waterway between Varanasi and Haldia has begun, the minister said works on four other waterways would take off after a study by international consultancies.

"We gave the legislative status in Parliament to five waterways that were already there. One (among them) is Ganga. We are developing the waterway between Varanasi and Haldia that is of 1,620 kms. Men and materials would start moving on water there in two years. That day is not far," he said.

"I would like to tell you with confidence that we are soon going to start work on four other waterways of Mahanadi, Brahmaputra, Buckingham Canal and in Kerala after getting them studied by international consultancies," he said.

Godavari, which flows in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, would be among the 101 rivers that would be developed as waterways, Gadkari said.

"After starting work on these five (waterways), (the bill on) development of 101 rivers as waterways would be passed in this Parliament session. Cabinet has already approved this. I would like to assure you that Godavari waterway would also be there," he said.

Observing that the share of waterways as a mode of transport had a high share in European countries and also in China, Gadkari said waterways are almost non-existent in the country at present.

The government has decided to develop river ports and sea ports like airports and railway stations for the benefit of passenger and movement of goods traffic, he said.

Stating that the Centre has decided to build road projects with concrete that do not require maintenance for 100 years with a cement bag costing around Rs 120-Rs 130, excluding taxes and transport, the minister asked the state government to avail the facility.

The Centre has booked 95 lakh tonne of cement at low rate and the state governments can take advantage of it, he said.

On the occasion, Gadkari announced that the Suryapet- Devarapalli state highway would be converted into a national highway and the Sattupalli-Kothagudem national highway into a four-lane road.

He also gave his nod to sanction a dry port in Khammam district, as sought by local public representatives, subject to approvals of the state government.

Gadkari also agreed to consider other demands of Khammam MP P Srinivasa Reddy, Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and other leaders.