In its 197th Board Meeting, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, made significant decisions to enhance the inland water transport (IWT) sector. The Board approved a detailed plan for developing National Waterway-2 (River Brahmaputra) and a link road connecting the Ship Repair Facility to Pandu Terminal in Assam. An amendment to the Inland Waterways Authority of India (Classification of National Waterways) Regulations, 2022 was also ratified.
The plan for National Waterway-2 will unfold over three years, focusing on fairway development, terminal infrastructure, navigation aids, and green energy initiatives. It includes establishing a skill development center and enhancing vessel operations. The proposed link road will facilitate the transportation of heavy equipment during the operational phase, providing smoother access from Pandu Port to National Highway 27.
Additionally, IWAI engaged the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts and IIT Madras to prepare a Detailed Project Report for extending National Waterway-64 (River Mahanadi) from Sambalpur in Odisha to Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh. This study will evaluate possible MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) facilities in Hirakud.
The Board also approved a proposal to create new posts in IWAI based on a report from the National Institute of Smart Government, and discussed IWT promotion initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir, focusing on developing navigation infrastructure across three national waterways.
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