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HomeIndiaGovernanceModi inaugurates India's first multi-modal waterways terminal in Varanasi

Modi inaugurates India’s first multi-modal waterways terminal in Varanasi

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The National Waterway-1 project is aimed at promoting inland waterways as a feasible and greener way to ferry goods.

Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday inaugurated India’s first multi-modal terminal and two major national highways in Varanasi.

The vessel took off from Kolkata to Varanasi on 3 November and was received by PM Modi, UP governor Ram Naik, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Varanasi.

Sixteen containers carrying food and snacks from PepsiCo (India) left from Kolkata aboard the vessel MV RN Tagore on 3 November. Pepsi paid Rs 12 lakh to Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the agency handling the project, to transport the goods.

The vessel will make its return journey to Kolkata with fertilisers from IFFCO.

National Waterway-1 from Haldia port in Kolkata to Varanasi is being developed with assistance from the World Bank. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 5,369.18 crore, which will be shared between the Government of India and the World Bank on a 50:50 ratio.

The project aims to promote inland waterways as a cheap and environment-friendly means of transportation and entails construction of three multi-modal terminals (Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia), two inter-modal terminals, five roll-on-roll-off (Ro-Ro) terminal pairs, new navigation lock at Farakka, assured depth dredging, integrated vessel repair and maintenance facility, differential global positioning system (DGPS), river information system (RIS), river training and conservancy works.


Also read: Boats to the rescue: Waterways to help decongest Mumbai’s packed roads & locals


Major Highways will reduce travel time for tourists

The prime minister also inaugurated two major highways with a combined length of 34 km, laid out at a cost of Rs 1,571.95 crore.

The 16.55-km Varanasi Ring Road Phase-I has been completed at a cost of Rs 759.36 crore, while the four-laning and construction of 17.25-km-long Babatpur-Varanasi Road on NH-56 cost Rs 812.59 crore.

The Babatpur Airport Highway will link Varanasi to the airport and go on to link Jaunpur, Sultanpur and Lucknow. With the flyover at Harhua and a road over bridge (ROB) at Tarna, the new road plan will reduce travel time from Varanasi to the airport, providing relief to the locals and tourists coming here, a statement issued by the PMO said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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