Lok Sabha Question No. 3409 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-08
Subject: Investment Package for IWDC in Bihar
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy

- (d) thereof?

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3409

ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025

## INVESTMENT PACKAGE FOR IWDC IN BIHAR

3409.  SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY:

## Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:

## पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

- (a) the  amount  of  funds  released  and  utilised  so  far  out  of  the  1405.26  crore investment announced  during the second meeting of the Inland  Waterways Development Council (IWDC), particularly in the State of Bihar; (b) the details of key projects approved along with their implementation status in the State under the said investment package; (c) whether any stretches of rivers in the State have been classified as high or medium  vessel  density  under  the  National  River  Traffic  and  Navigation  System (NRT&NS), if so, the details thereof; and whether the Government proposes to introduce a pilot version of the Riverine Community Development Scheme in Bihar to improve the socio-economic conditions of  river-dependent  populations,  especially  in  flood-prone  regions,  if  so,  the  details

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) Implementation of the projects has been started after the announcement at the second meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC). Till date an expenditure of Rs. 45.01 crore has been incurred. In respect of Bihar, the projects announced  during  the  second  meeting  of  IWDC  include  procurement  of  4  Quick Pontoon Opening Mechanisms (QPOMs) with estimated cost of about Rs.40 crore, the procurement process for which has been initiated. The details of completed/ongoing projects in the State of Bihar are at Annexure.

- (c) No stretch of river in the State has been classified as high or medium vessel density under the National River Traffic and Navigation System (NRT&NS).
- (d) Concept of Arth Ganga  was included in Jal Marg Vikas Project to energize socio-economic  development  along  the  banks  of  the  Ganga  river  with  the  aim  for inclusive growth to play a key role in improving the livelihoods of people by providing simple logistics solutions for small farmers, fishery units, unorganised farm producing units, horticulturists, florists and artisans. Under the Arth Ganga, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has taken up construction of 60 community jetties (Uttar Pradesh 15, Bihar - 21, Jharkhand - 2, West Bengal - 22), localized berthing stations for small vessels to enhance the accessibility and utility of inland waterways, particularly for rural  and  semi-urban  communities.  All  21  community  jetties  in  Bihar  have  been commissioned.  Daily  footfall  of  passengers  at  community  jetties  ranges  between 64,000 to 1,22,000.

## Completed/Ongoing Projects

|    | S.No.Name of Project                          | Details                                                                                                                                          |
|----|-----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  1 | IMT Kalughat                                  |  Developed in Saran, Bihar                                                                                                                      |
|  2 | 2 Ro-Pax Vessels                              |  MV Rajendra Prasad and MV Swami Paramhans Handed over to State Govt.                                                                           |
|  3 | Community Jetties                             |  21 Community jetties developed and commissioned                                                                                                |
|  4 | Quick Pontoon Opening Mechanism (QPOM)        |  1 QPOM deployed at Maujampur (Ara)                                                                                                             |
|  5 | Fairway Maintenance                           |  Farakka - Kahalgaon stretch  Sultanganj - Mahenderpur stretch  Mahenderpur - Barh stretch                                                    |
|  6 | National Inland Navigation Institute (NINI)   |  Operational in Patna                                                                                                                           |
|  7 | Gaighat Terminal, Patna                       |  Operational                                                                                                                                    |
|  8 | Fairway Maintenance                           |  Farakka - Kahalgaon stretch  Sultanganj - Mahenderpur - Barh stretch  Barh-Digha Stretch  Digha - Majhaua stretch  Kalughat Access Channel |
|  9 | Development of NINI as Center of Excellence,) | Infrastructure upgradation i.e. classrooms and training equipment                                                                                |
| 10 | Onshore facilities for community jetties      |  Being constructed for 8 locations                                                                                                              |

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## Projects in Bihar

## Annexure