The USD 25 mln Multi Modal Terminal (MMT) being built at Varanasi by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under Jal Marg Vikas project is set to be completed by November this year. This would be a major landmark for the project.
The construction of the USD 41 mln MMT at Sahibganj is to be completed by May, 2019, and the one at Haldia, being constructed at a cost of USD 75 mln, is scheduled to be completed by December 2019. In addition to this the work on the USD 52 mln state-of-the-art navigational lock at Farakka is to be completed By June, 2019.
Contract for maintenance dredging in the Farakka-Kahalgaon stretch of the river was awarded in April, 2018, and work on this has started. The work for construction of two Inter-Modal Terminals (IMT)on NW-1, at Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh and Kalughat in Bihar will be awarded this year.
Jal Marg Vikas is a USD 781 mlnWorld Bank aided project on National Waterway 1 (River Ganga), aimed at augmenting the navigational capacity of the Varanasi to Haldia stretch of the river, to enable commercial navigation of at least 1500-2000 ton vessels. The project includes construction/setting up of multi-modal terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia, IMTs, navigational lock, Ro-Ro terminals, jetties, river information system, vessel repair and maintenance facilities, fairway development, channel marking, river training and conservancy works.
IWAI has also finalized 13 vessel designs suitable for inland water transport. The models have been designed by M/s DST, Germany, with focus on economic efficiency, low transport cost, high safety, low draft and high carrying capacity. The testing of these models has been completed and final report is awaited.
To enable private sector participation, IWAI signed an agreement with M/s Summit Alliance Port East Gateway (India) Pvt. Ltd. on 26-04-2018 under a revenue sharing model (38.3%) for operating and managing IWT terminals at Garden reach in Kolkata and Gaighat and Kalughat terminals in Patna. Further, the RFQ for operations and maintenance of Varanasi MMT has also been issued.
In a major development, IWAI will also support Nepal in undertaking techno-economic feasibility study of the rivers, upgradation of technology of existing infrastructure, setting up of coordinating authority in Nepal for developing inland waterways.
IWAI has also initiated development work on eight new National Waterways. Tendering for these will be done during the current financial year. In addition to this, Detailed Project Reports (DPR) are being finalised for 18 new NW, DPR studies have been awarded for 2, and hydrographic and feasibility studies are underway for 37 new NW.
