NW-1 a boon for rural economy?

VARANASI : The National Waterway -1 being developed under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) will generate around 1.55 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities, thereby, impacting the rural economy positively.

As part of NW-1 project, the Multi Modal Terminal (MMT) has been constructed on River Ganga in Varanasi.

A senior official in the shipping ministry says, “Waterway-1 will have a positive impact on the rural economy as it is going to create more than 1.55 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities in the states it passes through.”

The project is expected to create 55,000 employment opportunities in UP and 50,000 each in Bihar and Jharkhand, he added. Also, it will benefit local communities and farmers along the banks of the Ganga. Modalities of ferry services, small jetties and vessels are being worked out to facilitate the movement of smaller cargo like agricultural produce like bananas, marigold flowers, betel leaf, and vegetables. Inland waterways Aauthority of India (IWAI) is working with State Livelihood Missions for imparting skill training to youth, boatmen and other community members so that they could benefit from the employment opportunities, an official said.

Ocean Whale Shipping Services Pvt Ltd director Suraj Prakash says, “This project will transform transportation in the region. It will be highly beneficial to industrialists who place bulk orders as transporting by vessel is comparatively cheaper.”

Moreover, IWAI officials also laid to rest apprehensions about the adverse impact of vessel movement on the Ganga on marine life. There would be no such thing, they said. JMVP aims to develop the stretch of River Ganga between Varanasi to Haldia (NW-1) for navigation of large vessels weighing upto1500-2000 tonnes. The objective is to promote inland waterways as a cheaper and more environment-friendly means of transport, especially for cargo movement.

JMVP is being implemented with the technical assistance and investment support of the World Bank, at an estimated cost of ₹5,369.18 crore on a 50:50 sharing basis between the Centre and the World Bank. A MMT has already been constructed in Varanasi under the project which entails construction of a MMT each at Sahibganj and Haldia; 2 inter-modal terminals; 5 Roll On – Roll Off (Ro-Ro) terminal pairs; new navigation lock at Farakka; assured depth dredging; integrated vessel repair & maintenance facility, differential global positioning system (DGPS), river information system (RIS), river training and river conservation works.

Operation, management and further development of the MMT, Varanasi is proposed to be entrusted to an operator on the PPP model.