In a major boost to India’s Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector, a consignment of 1,668 metric tonnes of Over Dimensional Cargo (ODC) has successfully reached Simaria Ghat in Bihar through National Waterway-1 (NW-1) after being transported from Diamond Harbour, Kolkata.
The cargo, destined for the Barauni Refinery, marks another significant achievement in the growing use of India’s inland waterways for transporting heavy and oversized industrial equipment. The successful movement demonstrates the increasing capability of NW-1 to handle complex cargo while offering a more efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative to conventional road transport.
The operation highlights the steady progress in strengthening inland waterway infrastructure along the Ganga River, enabling seamless multimodal logistics and improving connectivity between ports and industrial hubs across the hinterland.
The expansion of cargo movement through National Waterway-1 is expected to contribute significantly to reducing logistics costs, enhancing ease of doing business, lowering carbon emissions, and supporting industrial and economic growth in eastern and northern India.
With continued investments in terminals, navigational infrastructure, and multimodal integration, India’s inland waterways are emerging as a key pillar of the country’s logistics ecosystem under the government’s vision of developing sustainable and efficient freight transportation networks.