PM opens nation’s 1st multimodal waterways terminal in Varanasi
Modi also gifts projects worth ₹2,413 crore to Kashi, inaugurates two national highways
VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted infrastructure projects worth over Rs 2,413 crore, including the country’s first inland waterways multimodal terminal and two major national highways, during his visit to his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Monday.
This was his 15th visit to the city in the last four-and-a half years.
The PM inaugurated the multimodal terminal on the Ganga near Ralhupur village as part of the central government’s Jal Marg Vikas Project, and the 140 MLD sewage treatment plant at Deenapur constructed at a cost of Rs 235.53 crore.
The terminal, coming up at a cost of Rs 208 crore, aims to develop the stretch between Varanasi and Haldia in West Bengal for navigation of large vessels.
Three other multi-modal terminals are also under construction at Sahibganj (Jharkhand), Haldia (West Bengal) and Ghazipur (Uttar Pradesh).
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is the implementing agency of the project, which will enable commercial navigation of vessels with a capacity of 1500-2,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT). Deadweight tonnage is the weight that a ship can carry.
The PM also formally received India’s first container vessel MV Rabindranath Tagore which had started with 16 containers from Kolkata on October 30 and reached Varanasi on Friday. Modi pressed the button of a hi-tech crane to unload the first container from the vessel. The cargo belonged to Pepsico (India).
An official familiar with the developments said the foundation of the National Waterway-1 between Haldia and Prayagraj was laid in 1986 but work on the Varanasi-Haldia Waterway (amended scheme) began only in 2014.
“Waterway is cheaper than road transport,” he added.
The National Waterway-1 (Haldia-Varanasi stretch) is being developed with the technical assistance and investment support from the World Bank. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 5,369.18 crore which is being equally shared by the central government and the World Bank.
Later, the PM reached Wazidpur village where he dedicated to the nation the four-lane Babatpur-Varanasi road (17.25 km) and Varanasi ring road phase-I (16.55 km) built at a cost of Rs 812.59 crore and Rs 759.36 crore, respectively.
According to an official statement, the two national highways together cost Rs 1571.95 crore.
“The Varanasi-Babatpur highway connects the city with the airport and will go on to link Jaunpur, Sultanpur and Lucknow. With the flyover at Harhua and a road over bridge (ROB) at Tarna, the new road plan will reduce travel time from Varanasi to the airport providing relief to residents and tourists,” the statement said.
“The ring road, with two ROBs and a flyover, is expected to reduce traffic, fuel usage and pollution on NH 56 (Lucknow-Varanasi), NH 233 (Azamgarh-Varanasi), NH 29 (Gorakhpur-Varanasi) and Ayodhya-Varanasi highway. The ring road is expected to provide smooth access to Buddhist pilgrimage site Sarnath,” it added.
The PM also inaugurated sewage pumping stations at Chaukaghat (140 MLD), Phulwaria (7.6 MLD) and Saraiya (3.7 MLD) which have been constructed at a cost of Rs 34.01 crore.
He also inaugurated 28 km long relieving trunk sewer, rising mains and interceptor sewers worth Rs 155.87 crore along Varuna and Assi rivers.
Modi laid the foundation of a sewage management scheme for Ramnagar, driver training institute and beautification of a meeting hall on the first floor of the circuit house.
The sewage management scheme will cost Rs 72.91 crore which will include a 10 MLD (million litres per day) STP and four drains. The sewage projects will increase the sewage treatment capacity of the city from 102 MLD to 242 MLD.