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Aimed at facilitating cargo shipment through river ways, a ‘Waterways Station Hub’ (WSH) along with lighthouse and other infrastructure for movement of cargo ships will be established by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) soon. It will be a part of Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river waterways system between Haldia (West Bengal) and Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh) via Bhagalpur-Patna (Bihar), known as National Waterway (NW) No-1.
Establishment of WSH at Bhagalpur on the 1620 km long NW-1 would have facilities of loading-unloading of goods and containers besides smooth ferrying of ships as well as for handling and berthing (halts) of cargo vessels, said sources adding the total cost of establishing the WSH would be over Rs 300 crore. Sources in IWAI said the project will be part of IWAI’s plan to develop additional infrastructure and regulate secured movement of cargo ships to ferry heavy (bulk) goods on National Waterways (NWs). “We have already three NWs (NW1, NW2 and NW3), in a stretch of 2716 km, while two more waterways (NW4 and NW5) with a stretch of 1718 km, have been notified by the Government of India.
The Inland Water Transport (IWT) is being developed as a fuel-efficient and environment-friendly cargo and passenger transporting mode in the country, said IWAI sources adding that 55 million ton (MT) of cargo is being moved annually through IWT of 14,500 km of navigable waterways that comprises rivers, canals, backwaters and creeks etc.
“WSH in Bhagalpur would be an important milestone on Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river waterways (NW1),” said sources adding the IWAI has divided the waterway into seven stretches – Haldia to Katwa, Katwa to Rajmahal, Rajmahal to Munger, Munger to Patna, Patna to Ghazipur, Ghazipur to Chunar and Chunar to Allahabad. It will be used for various cargo vessels and tourist vessels.
The Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) in Bhagalpur has already been made functional, whereas three more between the stretch is under construction, said sources adding there is immense potential for cargo movement through IWT and river Ganga is going to be tapped as the dedicated ‘Freight Corridor’ for UP, Bihar and West Bengal.
Coal movement for thermal power plants, fly-ash from the thermal power plants, cement, stone chips, edible oil and other bulk goods could be easily ferried through the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river waterways (NW1), said sources as many thermal power plants, situated alongside the riverbanks would be immensely benefitted with better supply of coal to it.
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