Varanasi-Haldia stretch of waterways to be upgraded

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, led by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, has announced a significant investment of Rs. 4,633 crore for the upgradation of national waterways-1. The waterway is a 1,390-km stretch between Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Haldia in West Bengal. This investment comes as a response to the 16% increase in cargo movement on the National Waterways in FY23 compared to the previous fiscal year.

The traffic between Varanasi and Haldia on National Waterway-1 has witnessed a substantial growth of 20.52%, reaching 13.17 million tonnes in the year 2022-23 from 10.93 million tonnes in 2021-22. To support this growth, the investments will focus on the development of multi-modal terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj, and Haldia. Additionally, an intermodal terminal at Kalughaq fairway development, navigational facilities such as channel marking day/night navigational aids and river information systems, establishment of community jetties, and the construction of a new navigational lock at Farakka, as well as the modernization of the existing lock, will be part of the investment plan.

The Ministry’s techo-economic feasibility committee has previously identified 111 river systems in India that can be developed into National Waterways, with 26 of them already being navigable. The Ministry is actively working on five projects, amounting to a total cost of Rs 1,126 crore, to improve waterway connectivity with the North-East and enhance trade with neighboring regions. This demonstrates the government’s commitment to expanding and improving waterways infrastructure to support economic growth and trade facilitation.

In conclusion, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is investing a substantial amount in the upgradation of National Waterway-1, aiming to improve cargo movement and connectivity between Varanasi and Haldia. The investment plan includes the development of terminals, navigational facilities, community jetties, and locks, among other initiatives. This aligns with the Ministry’s broader vision to develop and enhance several river systems in India to boost trade and economic development in the region.

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