Inland waterways development our priority: Nitin Gadkari

PATNA: Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari today said that "developing inland waterways" was the "priority" of the central government and has "earmarked 101 important rivers in the country" to develop a network of waterways on the lines of national highways.

"Developing inland waterways for transporting passengers and goods is our priority. We have earmarked 101 important rivers in the country to develop a network of waterways on the lines of national highways," Gadkari told mediapersons here.

Gadkari said that a bill in this regard has already been moved in Parliament and is expected to get its nod in the next session.

He said that Ganga, Bramhaputra, Mahanadi, Buckingham Canal between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and West Coast Canal in Kerala have already been designated as inland waterways.

The Union Minister said DPR has been prepared and work has started on the Rs 4,200 crore World Bank-assisted project to develop Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to Haldia in West Bengal for water traffic. It will also stretch upstream till Allahabad and Kanpur in later phases.

"Under this project, we will develop water-ports at Varanasi, Sahebganj (Jharkhand) and Haldia (West Bengal). Land has been acquired for these and work is going on. Seaplane other vessel berthing facility will also be a part of these water-ports," he said.

Gadkari said that work on developing Brahmaputra, Mahanadi and Buckingham Canal will start within a year.

"We are also developing a place called Triveni near Gangasagar in West Bengal to transport imported coal to 13 thermal power plants situated along the Ganga. This will save much cost on coal transportation," he added.

The Minister pointed out that 47 per cent passenger and goods traffic was on water in China while in Japan it was 41 per cent, Korea 44 per cent and in European countries over 40 per cent. He lamented that in India it was 3 per cent in coastal areas and 0.3 per cent in inland areas.

"We need to change this situation as water transport is several times cheaper than road and rail transport," he added.

Gadkari also said that 300 lighthouses and 1150 islands in and around the waterways will be developed as part of the efforts to improve water transport. It will also perk up tourism in these areas, he added.