AndhraNews.Net - Survey for development of Inland Waterways

New Delhi: July 28, 2003

Techno-Economic Feasibility studies including surveys have been carried out on several inland waterways including Sunderbans, Barak river, Kakinada-Mercaunam canals integrated with Godavari and Krishna rivers, and DVC canal. Three waterways namely (i) Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system from Allahabad to Haldia (1620 kms) (ii) The Brahmaputra from Sadiya to Dhubri (891 kms) and (iii) The West Coast Canal from Kollam to Kottapuram along with Champakara and Udyogmandal canals (205 kms) have been declared as National Waterways and are being developed for shipping and navigation by providing basic infrastructural facilities i.e. navigational channel, navigational aids, terminals. This was stated by Shri Dilipkumar Mansukhlal Gandhi, Minister of State for Shipping in a written reply to Shri Manoj Bhattacharya in Rajya Sabha today. He further added that the Government was aware that there was a tremendous potential and scope for the development of inland water transport system within the country both for passengers and cargo.

The Minister further stated that in inland water transport sector the Government of India was committed to the creation of a facilitative environment in which greater movement of cargo and passengers could take place on National Waterways, State Governments were encouraged to assist in this task and to ensure greater popularity of this mode of transportation. A Centrally Sponsored Scheme in which larger amounts of Central assistance flow to the States had been put in place. An Inland Water Transport (IWT) Policy which envisages greater involvement of private sector had also been approved.

Press Release by: PIB/VCR/KSS-rel.28072003-RS-ii

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