The Uttar Pradesh government plans to use eight rivers as inland waterways to improve connectivity and transportation of goods, especially bulk cargo such as foodgrains and fertilisers. Senior state government officials said the Yamuna, Gomti, Assi, Ghaghra, Rapti Betwa, Chambal and the Varuna rivers will be used as waterways to transport goods and people.
The move is in line with the BJP-led Centre’s Maritime India Vision 2030 that envisages increasing the share of inland water transport to five per cent by 2030. Work on achieving the target has already started. The Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government aims to provide the plan with a shot in the arm, the officials said.
The proposed waterways authority will have officials from the transport, irrigation and tourism departments. However, the initial work to survey prospective waterways has been assigned to transport department officials.
Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh told PTI on Saturday, “Mother Nature has blessed Uttar Pradesh with so many rivers. The potential of these rivers has been neglected in the past. We are making an effort to make the rivers more useful for the public. The plan to develop waterways is a step towards this.”
According to a Government of India report, inland water transport is the most economical mode of transportation, especially for bulk cargo such as coal, iron ore, cement, foodgrains and fertilisers.
“The plan is in the initial survey phase. The modalities of it will be decided as per the survey and the feasibility on different rivers. However, we are moving ahead with the intention to realise the aim to strengthen and expand the waterways,” Singh added.
Inland water transport has a share of two per cent in India’s modal mix. The Centre intends to increase the share to five per cent, according to the Maritime India Vision 2030.
The recent Ganga Vilas luxury cruise that set off from Varanasi and covered over 3,200 kilometres through 27 river systems in India and Bangladesh has given a major push towards the plan to utilise the waterways for public transport.
“The plan is in the initial survey phase. The modalities of it will be decided as per the survey and the feasibility on different rivers. However, we are moving ahead with the intention to realise the aim to strengthen and expand the waterways,” Singh added.
Inland water transport has a share of two per cent in India’s modal mix. The Centre intends to increase the share to five per cent, according to the Maritime India Vision 2030.
The recent Ganga Vilas luxury cruise that set off from Varanasi and covered over 3,200 kilometres through 27 river systems in India and Bangladesh has given a major push towards the plan to utilise the waterways for public transport.
