First river info system in August

India is set to deploy its first world-class river information system (RIS) by the end of August in the Sagar-Farakka section of National Waterway (NW) 1, the stretch with the highest traffic.

With a price tag of Rs 26 crore, the RIS will function like air traffic control to ensure smooth flow of vessels and cargo on the waterway.

“We awarded the RIS tender last year to private player Elcome Marine for the Sagar-Farakka stretch of NW 1. The project is complete and is likely to be commissioned in the next fortnight,” said an official of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).

He added that the RIS was only available in a few developed countries. The system facilitates comprehensive planning of traffic in coastal waters, contributing to efficient use of inland waterways. “We are setting up these systems to ensure safe navigation on inland waterways and to provide conditions for secure navigation along rivers,” the official added.

Around three million tonnes of cargo are shipped on NW 1. Since thermal power plants, cement and fertiliser companies, and Food Corporation of India have expressed interest in using NW 1 as a cheap and clean form of transport, the RIS would act as a catalyst in promoting waterways.

The system streamlines exchange of information between waterway operators and users. It is designed to optimise traffic through electronic data transfer with the shore.

Asked about plans to install such system on other stretches, the official said, “We have awarded a tender to another private player, RDS Systems, for an RIS on the Farakka-Patna stretch of NW 1. We are also in the process of tendering for the Patna-Varanasi stretch of NW 1.”

In addition, the IWAI has provided 24-hour navigation aid from Haldia to Varanasi (1,383 km) on NW 1. Besides, day navigation marks are maintained on the entire balance length of NW 1.

The authority has also commissioned three differential global positioning system (d-GPS) stations at Swaroopganj, Bhagalpur and Patna on NW 1 and the fourth station at Varanasi is being taken up. The authority has provided 24-hour navigation aid from Dhubri to Silghat (442 km) on NW 2 and the entire 205 km of NW 3. On NW 2, GPS stations have been commissioned at Dhubri, Jogighopa, Silghat and Dibrugarh.