Will also receive India’s first container cargo being transported on inland waterway
The Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, will dedicate to the nation the newly-constructed multimodal terminal on River Ganga at Varanasi on Monday, November 12, 2018. This is the first of the three multimodal terminals and two intermodal terminals being constructed on the river. The MMTs are being built as part of the government’s Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) that aims to develop the stretch of River Ganga between Varanasi to Haldia for navigation of large vessels up to 1,500-2,000 tonnes weight, by maintaining a draught of 2-3 metres in this stretch of the river and setting up other systems required for safe navigation. The objective is to promote inland waterways as a cheaper and more environment-friendly means of transport, especially for cargo movement. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is the project implementing agency.
The JMVP entails development of 3 multimodal terminals (Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia), 2 intermodal terminals, 5 roll on roll off (RoRo) terminal pairs, new navigation lock at Farakka, assured depth dredging, integrated vessel repair and maintenance facility, Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS), River Information System (RIS), as well as river training and river conservancy works.
Operation, management and further development of the multimodal terminal is proposed to be entrusted to an operator on PPP model. Selection of the operator through international competitive bidding is at advanced stage and expected to be completed by December 2018.
The Prime Minister will also receive India’s first container vessel that sailed from Kolkata on October 30, 2018, carrying cargo belonging to PEPSICO (India) from Kolkata to Varanasi. Container movement on an inland waterway in India is being done for the first time post-Independence. The IWAI vessel is transporting 16 containers equivalent to 16 truckloads of food and snacks and is expected to reach Varanasi on November 11. It will make the return journey with fertilisers from IFFCO.
