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New Delhi : Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal on February 5, 2022, said that the Pilot movement of foodgrains on vessel from Patna (Bihar) to Pandu (Guwahati) will open a new gate to the ‘Gateway of North East’.
Addressing virtually on the occasion of flagging off of vessel ” MV Lal Bahadur Shastri” carrying foodgrains from Patna to Pandu and unveiling of foundation stone for terminal at Kalughat (Bihar) on February 5, 2022, Goyal said that this 2,350 km voyage will open a new gate to the ‘Gateway of North East’ (Assam) and ensure seamless waterways connectivity to NE Region through Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers. He said that flagging of the vessel named ‘MV Lal Bahadur Shastri’ reminds him of Shastriji’s slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan“.
“This will make our farmers Aatmanirbhar by expanding their reach and providing them better prices and better living. This event is a perfect demonstration of PM’s combined vision for ‘Act East’ policy and the inclusive development of Bihar and NE Region,” he added.
Goyal stated that the planned inter-modal terminal at Kalughat, Bihar, with Rs.78 crore will provide boost to region’s socio-economic development and create multiple job opportunities. This will also help decongest the roads of North Bihar and provide an alternative route for transportation of cargo in this area. He further said that this route from Patna can prove to be a viable alternative to the conventional mode of movement of foodgrains and goods for NE region. It will provide a fillip to NE region’s development.
The Minister informed that for seamless navigation to NE region, 2 stretches of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route are being developed with Bangladesh having the budget of Rs 305 crore. New scheme in budget with Rs 1,500 crore for North East- PM-DevINE to fund infrastructure and social development projects, will enable livelihood activities for youth and women, he added.
Enumerating the four major steps taken by Govt. for holistic devp. of waterways infra and ecosystem, to increase share of inland water transport in overall cargo transport, Goyal said that under PM GatiShakti, waterways is one of the 7 engines that is driving transformative approach for economic growth and sustainable development. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision is to use 7 engines to achieve efficiency to reduce transport cost and remove distance barriers especially for Farmers and MSMEs. He informed that govt. has undertaken Jal Marg Vikas Project with Rs. 4,600 crore for capacity augmentation of NW-1 (Ganga) for safe movement of vessels up to 2,000 tn.
He also mentioned that this project includes construction/setting up of multi-modal terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj, and Haldia, Ro-Ro terminals, jetties, vessel repair and maintenance facilities, etc. Eighty connectivity projects are in progress under Sagarmala to connect commercial hubs with ports. Goyal also stated that 106 new waterways in 24 States have been declared as National Waterways, taking the total no. to 111.
This event is another milestone and a testament to ever-growing friendship between India and Bangladesh, he said. This first foodgrains movement will be an integrated IWT movement via National Waterway-1 (river Ganga), NW-97 (Sunderbans), Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route, and NW-2 (river Brahmaputra).
Sarbanand Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping& Waterways and AYUSH, Ashwini Kumar Chaubey, MoS for CAFPD and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shripad Naik, MoS for Ports, Shipping& Waterways and Tourism, Shantanu Thakur, MoS for Ports, Shipping& Waterways, and both the Deputy CM’s of Bihar, Members of Parliament Ravi Shankar Prasad, Sushil Kumar Modi, Rajeev Pratap Rudy, Nand Kishore yadav, MLA Patna Sahib, and President of IWAI flagged off vessel ‘MV Lal Bahadur Shastri’ and unveiled the plaque of foundation stone for terminal at Kalughat (Bihar). The dignitaries also released the training documents for Personnel on Inland Vessels.
Inland vessel MV Lal Bahadur Shastri carrying 200 Metric Ton of foodgrains belonging to Food Corporation of India was flagged off from Inland Water Terminal Gaighat, Patna. This is the first foodgrain movement on this Inland Water Transport (IWT) route. The 25-30 days voyage will be an integrated IWT movement via National Waterway-1 (river Ganga), NW-97 (Sunderbans), Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route, and NW-2 (river Brahmaputra).