Ancient river route opens as Modi pushes waterways
TRANSFORMING COUNTRY’S WATERWAYS WILL REDUCE THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION
India’s first inland voyage by a container ship since it gained independence from Britain 70 years ago ended when the vessel docked in the city of Varanasi yesterday, a development officials hope will help shift cargo from the country’s congested road and rail networks.
The 1,390km Ganga watercourse is one of the 111 waterways spanning 20,276km that India is reviving or planning to build. The World Bank-assisted Ganga waterways project — costing Rs53.7 billion (Dh2.7 billion; $738 million) — will enable the commercial navigation of vessels and is set to be completed by 2023.
Game changer
Transforming the country’s waterways could be a game changer for India as it will reduce the cost of transportation — 50 per cent less than highways — as well as easing congestion on roads. The move is designed to encourage companies such as NTPC Ltd., India’s biggest power producer, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., the nation’s No 1 carmaker, Fertiliser Corp. of India Ltd. and Tata Chemicals Ltd. to use waterways to move cargo from cement to cars.
Shifting to water-based cargo transport should have happened at least 15 years ago, said K. Murali, professor at the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts ■ in the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. “Over time it will pick up steam to become more economical and the more sought-after mode for shifting cargo — there will be certain cargo which will have preference to move in waterways.”
The vessel that sailed from eastern city of Kolkata on October 30 was carrying food and snacks of PepsiCo Inc. in 16 containers, which is the equivalent of 16 truckloads. The Inland Waterways Authority of India vessel will make its return journey with fertilisers from Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd.
To promote inland waterways, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration has started dredging channels, building terminals and adding barges and has now set about convincing companies to use them. Modi was in Varanasi — which is also his parliamentary constituency — to receive the vessel and inaugurate the new terminal.
Still, India needs to overcome challenges including nighttime navigation, maintaining consistent water levels and creating more infrastructure, said Murali. India’s first container cargo movement “will provide some momentum to the industry to boost commercial activities, social development and curb carbon footprints, among others” he said.
Modi’s administration also has plans to integrate coastal and inland waterways. His government has unveiled a $34 billion plan that aims to develop ports along India’s 7,500km coastline.