Kolkata to Varanasi journey heralds mega waterway plan
NEWDELHI: A cargo vessel travelling from Kolkata docked at Varanasi in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, completing the first such journey through inland waterways since Independence, on a day the Prime Minister inaugurated several infrastructure projects in his Lok Sabha constituency.
Modi inaugurated the country’s first inland waterways terminal – part of a planned multimodal terminal (MMT) on the Ganga in Varanasi, opened two roads totaling 34 kilometres, and launched three sewage infrastructure projects.
The projects were worth about ~2,400 crore, according to government data.
A headline, ‘50% poor up for benefits are yet to link Aadhaar’, published on Page 1 of the November 11 edition, was incorrect. It should have reflected that about 50% of the National Social Assistance Programme beneficiaries, the poorest of poor, are yet to have their Aadhaar numbers verified. The error is regretted.
After inaugurating the inland waterways terminal, which comes under the first phase of the government’s Jal Marg Vikas Project from Varanasi to Haldia, Modi said this was the first time India was harnessing its waterways for business at such a scale. “Varanasi and the country are witness to the concept of how next-generation infrastructure can rejuvenate transport methods. It becomes a matter of pride to see projects completed on time,” he said.
At the inauguration ceremony, Modi received a container vessel that set sail on October 30 from Kolkata with food and beverages of Pepsico India. The consignment comprised 16 containers — the equivalent of 16 truckloads.
The new inland waterways terminal is part of the first MMT that will provide rail, road and waterways connectivity, according to the government. A rail and bus terminal at the Varanasi MMT are in the pipeline. The other three planned MMTS in the project are being constructed at Sahibganj, Haldia and Gazipur at a cost of ~5,369 crore.
The project on the National Waterways-1 is being funded on