World Bank approves $375 million loan for India's 1st waterway project

World Bank approves $375 million loan for India's 1st waterway project(जलमार्ग परियोजना)

The World Bank has approved a loan of USD 375 million (around Rs 2,421 crore) for the ambitious (महत्वाकांक्षी) inland waterways project between Haldia in West Bengal and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.An official statement said that the World Bank has approved the loan of USD 375 million for capacity augmentation (संवर्धन) of National Waterway-1 (River Ganga) under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP).

The loan amount is about 45 per cent of the estimated project cost of Rs 5,369 crore.

The 1,390 kilometre waterway project of the shipping ministry would enable commercial navigation of vessels with capacity of 1,500-2,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT).

The waterway will pass through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, serving major cities of Allahabad, Varanasi, Ghazipur, Bhagalpur, Patna, Howrah, Haldia and Kolkata besides the industrial hinterland including several industries located in the Ganga basin.

"The rail and road corridors in this region are heavily saturated. Hence, the development of NW-1 would provide an alternative, viable, economical, efficient and eco-friendly mode of transport," the statement said.

NW-1 will have three multi-modal terminals, one each at Varanasi, Sahibganj (Jharkhand), and Haldia.

There will be two inter-modal terminals at Kalughat and Ghazipur, a navigation lock at Farakka and five Roll on-Roll off (Ro-Ro) terminals.

Ferry services will be developed at Varanasi, Patna, Bhagalpur, Munger, Kolkata and Haldia besides vessel repair and maintenance facilities.

The project will enable the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to set-up River Information Service (RIS) System on NW -1 for the first time in India.

Inland Waterways Authority of India (NWAI)

Formed 27 October 1986; 30 years ago

Type Statutory Authority

Headquarters Noida, Uttar Pradesh

National Waterway 1

Allahabad–Haldia stretch of the Ganges–Bhagirathi–Hooghly river system.

Estd = October 1986

Length = 1,620 km (1,010 mi)

Fixed terminals = Haldia, BISN (Kolkata), Pakur, Farrakka and Patna.

Floating terminals = Haldia, Kolkata, Diamond Harbour, Katwa, Tribeni, Baharampur, Jangipur, Bhagalpur, Semaria, Doriganj, Ballia, Ghazipur, Varanasi, Chunar and Allahabad

Cargo Movement = 4 million tonne

National Waterway 2

Sadiya — Dhubri stretch of Brahmaputra river

Estd = September 1988

Length = 891 km (554 mi)

Fixed terminals = Pandu.

Floating terminals = Dhubri, Jogighopa, Tezpur, Silghat, Dibrugarh, Jamgurhi, Bogibil, Saikhowa and Sadiya

Cargo Movement = 2 million tonnes

National Waterway 3

Kottapuram-Kollam stretch of the West Coast Canal, Champakara Canal and Udyogmandal Canal.

Estd = February 1993

Length = 205 km (127 mi)

Fixed terminals = Aluva, Vaikom, Kayamkulam, Kottappuram, Maradu, Cherthala, Thrikkunnapuzha, Kollam and Alappuzha

Cargo Movement = 1 million tonne

National Waterway 4

Kakinada–Pondicherry stretch of canals and the Kaluvelly Tank, Bhadrachalam – Rajahmundry stretch of River Godavari and Wazirabad – Vijayawada stretch of River Krishna

Estd = November 2008

Length = 1,095 km (680 mi)

National Waterway 5

Talcher–Dhamra stretch of the Brahmani River, the Geonkhali - Charbatia stretch of the East Coast Canal, the Charbatia–Dhamra stretch of Matai river and the Mangalgadi - Paradip stretch of the Mahanadi River Delta

Established = November 2008

Length = 623 km (387 mi)

National Waterway 6

NW-6 is a Waterway.

In Assam, Lakhipur to Bhanga of river Barak

Estd = 2016

Length = 121 km (75 mi)