Freight cost likely to decrease through waterway transport

Increasing freight cost due to spiralling fuel prices could likely be reduced using waterways, which would also help in reducing the pollution, said Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, while addressing a virtual seminar on Prime Minister Gati Shakti master plan recently. Pointing out that the overall transportation cost was on the higher side in India in comparison to other countries, Gadkari said waterways is a much cheaper alternative as compared to other modes. “The future is to increase the nation’s freight capacity. The country also needs to increase freight traffic by water and to save the cost. The development of water transport is important for the country. Efforts should be made to ensure that passenger transport and freight in the north-eastern states is carried out by this mode of transport,” said the minister.