Boost to India's Inland Waterways: Launch of 'Jalvahak' Scheme and Fixed Cargo Services
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Launch of 'Jalvahak' scheme and Fixed Day Scheduled Service of Cargo Vessels by Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal |
| Objective | Promote long-haul cargo movement on National Waterways NW 1 (Ganga), NW 2 (Brahmaputra), and NW 16 (Barak). |
| Key Features of Scheme | - Incentive for cargo movement over 300 km. - Up to 35% reimbursement of operating costs. - Validity: 3 years. |
| Launched Services | Fixed Day Scheduled Sailing Services: - NW 1: Kolkata → Patna → Varanasi. - NW 2: Kolkata → Pandu (Guwahati). |
| Transit Time | - NW 1: Kolkata to Patna: 7 days, Patna to Varanasi: 5 days, Kolkata to Varanasi: 14 days. - NW 2: Kolkata to Pandu: 18 days, Pandu to Kolkata: 15 days. |
| Flagged-Off Ships | - MV Trishul: 1,500 tonnes of cement to Guwahati. - MV AAI: 1,000 tonnes of gypsum to Patna. - MV Homi Bhaba: 200 tonnes of coal to Varanasi. |
| Expected Benefits | - Boost logistics efficiency, reduce road and rail congestion, lower transportation costs, and promote sustainability. |
| Investment & Goals | - 200 million MT cargo by 2030, 500 million MT by 2047. - Modal shift of 800 million tonne-kilometers by 2027 with ₹95.4 crore investment. |
| Significance for India | - Cargo movement increased from 18.07 million MT (2013-14) to 132.89 million MT (2023-24). - Total navigable waterways: 20,236 km (17,980 km rivers, 2,256 km canals). |
| Key Stakeholders | - Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW). - Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). - Inland & Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL). |