Lok Sabha Question No. 5366 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-06
Subject: Funding for National Waterways
Ministry: SHIPPING
Asked by: RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SHIPPING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5366 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 th  APRIL, 2017 FUNDING FOR NATIONAL WATERWAYS

## 5366. SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of SHIPPING be pleased to state:

## पोतप�रवहनमंत्

- (a) whether the Government proposes funding from the Central Road Fund (CRF) for the development of National Waterways in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the funds from CRF proposed to be allocated for the purpose during the current financial year;
- (d) whether the Government has prioritized the waterways for development in a time-bound manner and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the time-frame set for completion of work on these waterways?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING

## (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

(a)to(c):A  proposal  for  allocation  from  Central  Road  Fund  (CRF)  for  development  and maintenance of National Waterways (NWs) is being considered by the Government.

(d)&(e):111 inland waterways including five NWs declared earlier, have been declared as NWs by the National Waterways Act, 2016.

The  six  NWs  viz.  NW-1  (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly  river  system  from  Allahabad  to Haldia);  NW-2  (River  Brahmaputra  from  Dhubri  to  Sadiya);  NW-3  (West  Coast  Canal  from Kottapuram  to  Kozhikode);  NW-4  (Kakinada-Puducherry  canals  along  with  Godavari  and Krishna  rivers);  NW-5  (East  Coast  Canal  integrated  with  Brahmani  river  and  Mahanadi  delta rivers) and  NW-16 (River Barak from Lakhipur to Bhanga) have been taken up for development for navigation.

NW-1, 2 and 3 out of the above six NWs have been developed with fairway, navigational aids  and  combination  of  fixed  and  floating  terminals  at  strategic  locations  with  mechanized handling facilities. These three NWs are operational.

The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) for capacity augmentation of NW-1 from Haldia to Varanasi  is  being  implemented  with  technical  and  financial  support  of  the  World  Bank  at  an estimated  cost  of  Rs.  5369  crore  and  is  targeted  for  completion  in  2022-23.      The  project envisages  fairway  development,  navigational  aids,  construction  of  multi-modal  terminals  at Varanasi,  Sahibganj  and  Haldia,  construction  of  new  navigational  lock  at  Farakka,  bank protection work, movement of LNG vessels, LNG bunkering facilities etc.

InNW-4,  the stretch between Muktyala  to Vijayawada  has been undertaken for development  for  which  dredging  works  to  remove  shallow  patches  has  been  awarded  and  is targeted for completion by June, 2019.

In  NW-5, the stretch downstream of EradauptoDhamra Port and Paradip port has been undertaken for development.  Dredging between Erada and Padanipal is being carried out and is targeted for completion in 2020-2021.

In NW-16, the stretch from Silchar to Bhanga (71 km) has been taken up for development and works for development of fairway and for providing navigational aids have been awarded and are targeted for completion by March, 2019.

Feasibility  and  Detailed  Project  Reports  (DPRs)  studies  are  being  prepared  for  the remaining NWs. The interventions required for the development of these waterways would be known once these studies / reports are available.

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