Multi-mode transport plan emphasising waterways on anvil: Gadkari

The government is developing a multi-mode transportation plan with an emphasis on waterways to reduce the dependence on land transport, Road Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday.

Such a change would help industry in lowering overall logistics' costs and contribute to promoting trade, Gadkari said while addressing the Confederation of Indian Industry national conference and annual session here.

"While in China around 47 percent of goods and services are moved via water, the corresponding percentage in India is at a dismal 3.3 percent, including coastal shipping and inland waterways," the minister said.

He said the public-private partnership (PPP) model was more successful in waterways, and this assumed greater significance because it remains largely under-utilised in India.

Five waterways have been approved by parliament, and the objective is to create numerous multimodal hubs that would not only be efficient but also reduce pollution, Gadkari added.