The shipping ministry has identified 37 of the recently notified 106 inland waterways to develop them for transport of cargo and passengers in the next 2-3 years. These include rivers in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Assam and West Bengal.
According to sources, the tendering for Barak, Ghaghra, Gandak and Kosi rivers has already been initiated for fairway development. The tenders for terminal development will be rolled out by year end.
Officials said that since the IWAI was set up in 1986, only Rs.1,500 crore was spent till last year, indicating how developing waterways was never a priority of the earlier governments. They are also keen to develop a portion of Yamuna in Delhi in navigation. It has already floated three tenders for ferry vessels, dredging and the setting up of terminals on 16 km stretch of the river in the national capital.
The government is also planning to come out with a new policy on dredging and a new Inland Vessel Act is also being prepared.
According to sources, the tendering for Barak, Ghaghra, Gandak and Kosi rivers has already been initiated for fairway development. The tenders for terminal development will be rolled out by year end.
Officials said that since the IWAI was set up in 1986, only Rs.1,500 crore was spent till last year, indicating how developing waterways was never a priority of the earlier governments. They are also keen to develop a portion of Yamuna in Delhi in navigation. It has already floated three tenders for ferry vessels, dredging and the setting up of terminals on 16 km stretch of the river in the national capital.
The government is also planning to come out with a new policy on dredging and a new Inland Vessel Act is also being prepared.
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