Kandla Port Trust to develop proposed waterways on Tapi and Narmada rivers

Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya has said the proposed waterways in Tapi and Narmada rivers in Gujarat will be developed by state-owned Kandla Port Trust.

The Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Chemicals, and Fertilisers told this to PTI after a review meeting on road projects with MPs, MLAs, and officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) here Saturday.

"Kandla Port Trust will invest the money needed for the development and maintenance of waterways in Tapi and Narmada rivers," he said.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has initiated the process to finalize the detailed project reports (DPRs)for the development of waterways in both these rivers, the minister said.

Mandaviya said this came to after the technical feasibility reports, which said the waterways were technically viable in the two rivers. According to the minister, sea transport was safer than road transport for the movement of goods and passengers.

"Development of inland waterways in Tapi and Narmada rivers is cost-effective and environment-friendly. It will help reduce the burden on roads, as around 140 truckloads of goods can be accommodated in a single 2,000-tonne vessel," he said.

Mandaviyaclaimed that in the European countries, 40 percent of goods are transported via waterways, whereas in India it is just five percent.

"Besides that, water transport is cheaper than the other modes," he said.

The Union minister also said total Rs 35,448 crore would be spent on developing four expressways in Gujarat- Rs 11,000 crore on Delhi-Vadodara expressway, Rs 8,711 crore on Vadodara Mumbai expressway, Rs 8,000 crore on Sanchore- Radhanpur economic corridor and Rs 7,737 crore on Ahmedabad-Dholera expressway.