Fast-track Yamuna boat service project: Gadkari to officials

Union minister Nitin Gadkari today asked officials to fast-track the project on starting a boat transport service on a section of Yamuna and see if it could be be commenced from October.
The Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, PWD Minister Satyendar Jain and Water Minister Kapil Mishra discussed the issue during a meeting here.
Gaskari asked officers of his ministry to fast-track the project that seeks to start the boat service from Wazirabad to Fatehpur Jat and check if it could be commenced from October.
Transport Ministry officials also raised the issue of building terminals on the banks where boats could berth.

Gadkari said starting the project on this small patch in Yamuna would serve as a "model for the entire country" and also prove to be a boost to the waterways transport.
Kejriwal too emphasised that the project would send the "message aloud across the country".

Officials from the two sides are expected to visit the sites in a day or two.
Delhi government asked the Centre if 54-km Najafgarh Drain could be marked as an inland waterway.
Both sides discussed several pending issues, including dredging of Yamuna River in order to take up the project.
Apart from it, progress on the work of decongesting the national capital was also taken up during the meeting.