Lok Sabha Question No. 2147 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-15
Subject: Transport Cargo on River Ganga
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Dulal Chandra Goswami

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2147

ANSWERED ON 15.12.2023

## TRANSPORT CARGO ON RIVER GANGA

2147.  SHRI DULAL CHANDRA GOSWAMI:

Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYSbe pleased to state:

## पȅन , पोतपįरवहनऔरजलमागŊमंũी

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  run  large  transport  cargo  on  river Ganga in Bihar to transport goods through waterways;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there is any ongoing work on river Ganga to ensure the smooth operation of transport cargo; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a)&  (b)  1,31,69,853  Metric  Tons  (MT)  of  cargo  movement  has  been  recorded   on National Waterway-1 (NW-1) i.e. on Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System in 202223 which includes 1845.8 MT of Over Dimension Cargo (ODC) which is difficult to be moved by other modes.  Details of 4 ODC cargo movement to Bihar during 2022-23 is given below:

|    | Sl.No.Month   | Year   | Origin          | Destination   | Commodity           |   Cargo in MT | Shipper                     |
|----|---------------|--------|-----------------|---------------|---------------------|---------------|-----------------------------|
| 1  | May           | 2022   | Budge Budge     | Buxar         | Transformer         |         379   | L&T Ltd.                    |
| 2  | Feb           | 2023   | Kolkata         | Semaria       | Diesel HDT Reactors |         703.5 | Indian Oil Corporation      |
| 3  | Feb           | 2023   | Kolkata         | Buxar         | Generator Stator    |         379   | Buxar thermal Power Project |
| 4  | Feb           | 2023   | Diamond harbour | Semaria       | Reactor             |         384.3 | Indian Oil Corporation      |
|    |               |        |                 |               | Total               |        1845.8 |                             |

(c)  &  (d)  River  Ganga  (Ganga  -  Bhagirathi-Hooghly  river  system)  from  Prayagraj  to Haldia  has  been  declared  as  National  Waterways-1.  To  improve  navigability  and provide a cost-effective, environment-friendly and safe supplementary mode  of transportation,  Inland  Waterways  Authority  (IWAI)  of  India  has  undertaken  Jal  Marg Vikas  Project  (Haldia  to  Varanasi  at  a  cost  of  Rs.  5362.27  Crore.  The  development objective  of  JMVP  project  is  to  enhance  transport  efficiency  and  reliability  of  Inland Waterways  for  handling  logistics.  Expected  major  outcomes  of  the  project  are  given below:

- i. Construction of Multimodal Terminals at three locations:      Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia and one Intermodal Terminal at Kalughat.
- ii. Construction of a new Navigational Lock at Farakka.
- iii. Fairway Development through dredging, river training works etc.
- iv. Provision of Navigational Aids, such as channel markings, night navigational aids including deployment of GPS, RIS and river maps and charts for navigation.
- v. Construction of 60+ community jetties on NW-1.
- vi. Upgradation of existing Navigational Lock at Farakka.
- vii. Installation of Quick Pontoon Opening System

The project has achieved physical progress of 59.89% and financial progress of 59.35% as on 30.11.2023.

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