In a significant move towards promoting sustainable and cost-efficient cargo movement, officials from NTPC Limited, SJVN Ltd, and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Regional Office Varanasi, jointly conducted a site visit at Mahadeva Ghat in Bihar.
The visit aimed to assess the feasibility of transporting coal to the upcoming Chausa Thermal Power Plant in Buxar district through India’s inland waterways network. Currently, thermal power plants across the country largely rely on rail and road transport for coal movement, which not only increases logistics costs but also adds to road congestion and carbon emissions.
By leveraging National Waterway-1 (NW-1), which runs along the Ganga River from Haldia to Prayagraj, the proposed coal transportation route could significantly reduce logistics costs while ensuring eco-friendly and reliable connectivity.
During the inspection, the officials evaluated key parameters including:
The suitability of Mahadeva Ghat for loading and unloading infrastructure
Navigability and draft availability along the identified route
Potential for developing last-mile connectivity to the Chausa plant site
Operational requirements for efficient handling and movement of coal consignments
The initiative aligns with the government’s broader push to shift bulk cargo movement to inland waterways, thereby reducing dependency on conventional transport modes. The IWAI has been actively facilitating such transitions, with recent successful trials for cement, fly ash, and coal movement to various destinations along NW-1.
If found feasible, the project is expected to not only lower transportation costs for NTPC and SJVN but also contribute to India’s climate goals by reducing carbon emissions from coal logistics.
