THE MUCH-awaited Inland Waterway Authority of India project for transport from Haldia (West Bengal) to Varanasi across the Ganga finally saw light of day on Friday. The transportation mode is a boon for traders of eastern Uttar Pradesh as it is cheaper freight than any other mode of surface transport. The first consignment of 300 metric ton of crude oil was transported on Friday. The consignment was booked by a local industrialist and it was delivered at the jetty built at Kaithi, 30 km away from Varanasi. Now, traders can transport goods from West Bengal to UP via Bihar at a cheaper rate than trains and trucks.
Besides, they could also receive their consignment in bulk.
It may be noted that since the formation of Inland Water Authority of India under the Ministry of Shipping and Transport, the Government of India had been concerned with growing burden on rail and road traffic by goods and had envisaged to introduce water transporation on three major water routes, which included Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers and west coast canals.
After introduction of commercial vessels from Dubri (Assam) to Bangladesh border on the Brahmaputra route and West coast canals in Kerala, the government of India emphasised on plying of commercial vessels on Ganga. The vessels started plying from Haldia (West Bengal) to Patna (Bihar) in the first phase two years back. Now, as a part of second phase, the route has been extended from Patna to Varanasi. In the third phase, it would be extended up to Allahabad.
Former Shipping and Transport Minister Shatrughan Sinha had emphasised shipping transporation on Ganga from Haldia to Varanasi. He had held several meetings with the authorities of Inland Water Authorities and local administration for the prompt fulfillment of this ambitious project. The office in charge of the local office of Inland Water Authority of India Gurmukh Singh said, “We have started the cargo facility at a cheaper freight than rail and road for traders by ours own specially designed ships, which can easily sail on an average 1.5 meter water level. The first ship, carrying the consignment of a local trader, covering an area of around 1,500 kilometre from Haldia to Varanasi after a journey of 12 days reached here on Friday evening. The unloading of consignment is on in full swing here.”
{{/usCountry}}Former Shipping and Transport Minister Shatrughan Sinha had emphasised shipping transporation on Ganga from Haldia to Varanasi. He had held several meetings with the authorities of Inland Water Authorities and local administration for the prompt fulfillment of this ambitious project. The office in charge of the local office of Inland Water Authority of India Gurmukh Singh said, “We have started the cargo facility at a cheaper freight than rail and road for traders by ours own specially designed ships, which can easily sail on an average 1.5 meter water level. The first ship, carrying the consignment of a local trader, covering an area of around 1,500 kilometre from Haldia to Varanasi after a journey of 12 days reached here on Friday evening. The unloading of consignment is on in full swing here.”
{{/usCountry}}He added, there was a regular demand for one such vessel for transporation from Haldia to Varanasi by a local company, M/s Jhunjhunwala Oils Mills Ltd with its plant at Jaunpur. Inland Water Authority of India could also give the vessel to the private parties on lease. Besides, parties having their own vessels of 300 metric ton capacity could use the Ganga route for transport facility.