River Ganga News

The first ever containerized cargo movement via Indo-Bangladesh protocol route and Brahmaputra (National Waterway -2) river will start from West Bengal's Haldia Today."In line with Government’s focus on improving connectivity to the North Eastern Region (NER), a landmark container cargo consignment will sail on inland waterways from Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) to the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) terminal at Pandu in Guwahati on 4 November, 2019," said a government release.Gopal Krishna, Secretary (Shipping) will flag off the inland vessel MV Maheshwari carrying 53 TEUs (containers) of petrochemicals, edible oil and beverage etc.

The world's largest container shipping company Maersk Line began moving 16 containers on the Ganga river from Varanasi to Kolkata, the Shipping Ministry of India said.It will be Maersk's first container movement in the 1390-km inland waterway in the River Ganga from Haldia to Varanasi."Maersk Line will move 16 containers on river Ganga (National Waterway-1) from Varanasi to Kolkata tomorrow. The firm is onboard India's inland waterways for the first time," the ministry said in a statement.The Indian government has been developing National Waterway-1 with technical and financial assistance from the World Bank at an estimated cost of around $790 million.On November 12…

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has been working hard towards facilitating safe passenger movements for Kumbh-Mela, crowned by UNESCO as an 'intangible cultural heritage of humanity', the biggest congregation on earth.Kumbh-Mela is scheduled to be held at Sangam, Prayagraj (Allahabad) from 15.01.2019 to 15.03.2019. IWAI has set up four floating terminals, one each at, Kilaghat, Sarasvati Ghat, Naini Bridge and Sujawan Ghat.Further, two vessels namely C.L. Kasturba and S.L.Kamla will be deployed for pilgrim movement.Fairway with navigational aids will be maintained between Prayagraj (Allahabad) and Varanasi with targeted least available depth (LAD) of 1.0 m.

Patna, capital of Indian state of Bihar, will witness a new landmark in the country’s Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector with 16 TEUs of container cargo (equivalent to 16 truckloads), belonging to food majors PepsiCo India and Emami Agrotech will reach the city's Gaighat IWT Terminal from Kolkata on river Ganga next week.Inland Waterways Authority of India’s (IWAI) vessel MV RN Tagore sailed from Kolkata’s Garden Reach Jetty on December 6th. It will reach the IWT terminal at Patna in 6-7 days after an 815 kms long voyage on river Ganga (National Waterway-1).The cargo will be unloaded at IWAI’s inter-modal terminal at Gaighat in  Patna from where onward cargo will be loaded.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the first multi-modal terminal built on the river Ganga in Varanasi (Kashi). He also received India's first container vessel that sailed from Kolkata on the newly-developed inland waterway.The event marked India’s first inland voyage by a container ship since it gained independence from Britain 70 years ago. The first consignment contained cargo belonged to food and beverage giant PepsiCo India.The 1,390km (863 miles) Ganga watercourse is one of the 111 waterways spanning 20,276km that India is reviving or planning to build. The World Bank-assisted Ganga waterways project—costing  USD…

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) made public 13 standardised state-of-the-art ship designs suitable for large barge haulage on river Ganga (National Waterway-1).This marks attaining of a critical milestone in the growth of the country’s Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector as it will help overcome the unique navigation challenges river Ganga throws due to its complex river morphology, hydraulics, acute bends, shifting channels, meanders and current.It will serve as an enabler for domestic shipbuilding industry working on inland vessels and open huge possibilities for cargo and passenger movement on National Waterway-1.The Government…

Even as the work on the development of Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) on River Ganga is going on in full steam, a team of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) held a two day long intensive advocacy and communications outreach at Sahibganj and Rajmahal in Jharkhand. JMVP is India's prestigious development of waterways.The public meetings are being held as part of a month-long dialogue initiative on the entire stretch of JMVP (Varanasi to Haldia) that began in July.The IWAI is constructing a INR 280. 90 crore (USD 41 mln) multi modal terminal at Sahibganj in Jharkhand besides a proposed ship repair facility and a freight village.

The USD 25 mln Multi Modal Terminal (MMT) being built at Varanasi by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under Jal Marg Vikas project is set to be completed by November this year. This would be a major landmark for the project.The construction of the USD 41 mln MMT at Sahibganj is to be completed by May, 2019, and the one at Haldia, being constructed at a cost of USD 75 mln, is scheduled to  be completed by December 2019. In addition to this the work on the USD 52 mln state-of-the-art navigational lock at Farakka is to  be completed By June, 2019. Contract for maintenance dredging in the Farakka-Kahalgaon stretch of the river  was awarded in April, 2018,  and work on this has started.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)  has set out on a massive public outreach initiative along river Ganga on National Waterway-1 to help push rural economy to connect with waterways.As part of a month long dialogue series extending from Varanasi to Haldia , a team of IWAI on 17 -18 July, 2018 held two day long outreach with villagers- farmers and traders, from Zamania, Kataria, Puraina, Sarai Mohammadpur, Chochakpur, Jallapur, Dungerpur in Ghazipur district.The officials disseminated information on the Rs 5369 crore  Jal Marg Vikas Project on river Ganga. Residents who participated in hundreds of numbers shared their enthusiasm and expectations from the project.The community outreach was attended by people from diverse backgrounds – NGOs…

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) will involve banks for ensuring availability of financing options for the private players engaged in Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector. Financing and funding for Operation and Maintenance of IWT assets is a challenge for shippers, vessel operators and asset management firms as the banking sector is not yet ready with any customized financing option for the sector. Addressing the day-long Stakeholders Conference on Emerging Business opportunities in Inland Water Transport Sectorwas organized by IWAI at New Delhi,the IWAI chairperson Mrs NutanGuha Biswas said that the banking finance is needed for the emerging business opportunities that private players are inclined to be involved with. Mrs.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India  (IWAI) proposes to develop a“freight village” in Varanasi, informs the government of India. The objective of the project is to support economic development in the hinterland of the multimodal terminal at Varanasi and reduce logistics cost in the Eastern Transport Corridor and its influence zone. It envisages establishment of multimodal logistics hub in Varanasi to promote the use of waterway transport on river Ganga (NW-1) between Haldia and Varanasi and of rail transport on Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) in the North bound direction which facilitates movement of freight from road to water and rail.

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) will construct Intermodal Terminal at Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur and will be linked to both National Waterways-I (NW-1) or river Ganga and National Highway-19 - connecting Ghazipur to Patna - and help in movement of cargo, with options for both land and water transportation. Union Minister for Shipping Nitin Gadkari, will lay the foundation stone for an Intermodal Terminal at Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh today (25 January). The intermodal terminal at Ghazipur will have linkage to both NW-I or River Ganga and NH-19 which is just 650 metres away. NH19 links Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh with Patna in Bihar.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has awarded a contract to a reputed consultant for technical support services for the Multi-Modal Terminal at Haldia and new Navigation Lock at Farakka. These projects are part of the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) on National Waterway -I (River Ganga), being implemented with technical and financial assistance of the World Bank at an estimated cost of Rs. 5369 Crore (USD 819million). The objective of this is to ensure adherence to timelines and budgeted costs of the project and full compliance with the other stated guidelines. The consultants will ensure efficient management of the two EPC contracts awarded by IWAI under the JMVP.

The Indian government has approved a proposal to allocate 2.5 per cent of the Central Road Fund (CRF) for National Waterways (NWs) that would result in about Rs 2,000 crore (USD 309 mln) proceeds per annum for their development. A statement from the government said that Indian Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accorded its approval today to a proposal jointly mooted by the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) for amendment of Central Road Fund Act, 2000 to allocate 2.5 per cent of the proceeds of CRF for development and maintenance of NWs and a reduction in the share provided for development of National Highways.

Integrated cargo transport along multiple waterways begins in India from the banks of Rupnarayan to the shores of Ganga. V. V. Giri, a vessel of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) began a landmark pilot movement on April 23, 2017 from Kolaghat in East Midnapore district of West Bengal to Bhagalpur in Bihar with a cement consignment of 240 metric tons. The vessel's journey commenced from Kolaghat on Rupnarayan river (National Waterway- 86) to reach Bhagalpur via river Ganga (NW-1). This marks the beginning of an integrated cargo movement involving two different NWs - NW-86 and NW-1. Rupnarayan river (NW-86) connects with river Ganga (NW-1) at Geokhali near Haldia. On its return trip, the vessel will bring fly ash/pet coke.

In a major boost towards realising India's ambitious inland waterways project, the World Bank has approved a $375 million loan for capacity augmentation of National Waterway-1(River Ganga) under Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP). The government is developing NW-1 (River Ganga) under JMVP from Haldia to Varanasi (1390 Km) with the technical and financial assistance of the World Bank at an estimated cost of Rs 5369 crore (USD 829 mln). The project would enable commercial navigation of vessels with capacity of 1500-2,000 DWT. Under the project, there are going to be three multi-modal terminals--one each at Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Sahibganj (Jharkhand)…

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone of the multi-modal terminal at Sahibganj, Jharkhand. The terminal at Sahibganj is an important component of the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) for the augmentation of the navigation capacity of National Waterway-1 (Ganga) from Varanasi to Haldia (1390 km). Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Shri Nitin Gadkari was also present on this occasion. Speaking on the occasion the Prime Minister said that the Sahibganj Multi Modal Terminal will link the city and the landlocked state of Jharkhand to foreign shores through the Bay of Bengal. Speaking on this occasion…

The National Waterway Act, 2016 declaring 111 national waterways, including the 5 national waterways declared earlier has been enforced w.e.f. 12th April, 2016. The process for preparation of techno economic feasibility (TEF) study/Detailed Project Report (DPR) of new national waterways was initiated. As per the feasibility reports received so far, 32 new national waterways and five national waterways declared earlier are to be developed in the next three years. Out of these 32 new national waterways, DPRs for 8 waterways are available. The process for preparation of DPR has been initiated for the remaining 24 waterways. Based on the available DPRs…

The Shipping Ministry of India has announced the details of various ongoing major projects for development of National Waterways (NWs), which are as under four divisions. The government also revealed the techno–economic feasibility studies and Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the 106 new National Waterways. Since inception of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), projects worth Rs. 1871.567 crore ($275 million) for development of National Waterways (NWs) have been implemented till March, 2016. National Waterway – 1 (NW-1): Construction of Phase-I (A) of the multimodal Inland Water Transport (IWT) terminal at Varanasi at a cost of Rs.169.60 cr. Construction of Phase-I of the multimodal IWT terminal at Sahibganj at a cost of Rs.292.10 cr.

A decision to undertake development of National Waterways (NWs) declared under The National Waterways Act, 2016 is based on Techno Economic Feasibility Study and Detailed Project Report, commissioned on each of them, by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). This Act has been enforced with effect from 12th April 2016. It has been decided to undertake development of 37 NWs in the next three years. Specified stretches of River Sutlej and Beas have been included in the list of declared NWs as NWs No. 17 and 98 respectively. A RITES Report of 2014 on “Integrated National Waterways Transportation Grid (INWTG)” the cost comparison between Inland Water Transport (IWT) mode and rail and road transport was published.

Inland water transport terminals will come up in Kolkata and Patna under the public-private partnership (PPP) model with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) having identified development and operation of Kolkata Terminal’s GR Jetty -I, GR Jetty-II & BISN and Patna Terminal’s Gaighat & Kalughat on the river Ganga. According to an official statement, after invitation of bids, nine firms have expressed their interest in taking up the project and the work was expected to be awarded by November. This is the first PPP project undertaken by the IWAI. Under the transactional structure worked out by International Finance Corporation (IFC)…

With its objective of providing safe, environment friendly and economical mode of transportation through National Waterway-1 (NW-1), the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI),Ministry of Shipping signed a contract with DST, Germany to design vessels, especially suited to navigate the 1620 km stretch of NW-1. Speaking on the occasion a senior IWAI official said it is a revolutionary step and a milestone in the journey of NW-1. “The objective of IWAI is to go along with nature and disturb the river minimally. The specially designed vessels will navigate on low drafts and will be of high carrying capacity, and most importantly, will be environment friendly,” he said.

An increasing number of ships and vessels are using liquefied natural gas or LNG as a clean fuel to comply with the regulations laid by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) across emission control areas. LNG as a ship fuel reduces the emission of sulphur dioxide by 90-95% compared to the conventional petroleum fuels. This factor has propelled the growth of the global LNG bunkering market, says Transparency Market Research (TMR). The market stood at 70 kilo tons in 2013 and is anticipated to expand phenomenally at a CAGR of 63.6% during the period between 2014 and 2025. The overall market is projected to reach 22,540 kilo tons by 2025.