Inland waterways development our priority: Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari today said that "developing inland waterways" was the "priority" of the central government and has "earmarked 101 important rivers in the country" to develop a network of waterways on the lines of national highways.
"Developing inland waterways for transporting passengers and goods is our priority. We have earmarked 101 important rivers in the country to develop a network of waterways on the lines of national highways," Gadkari told mediapersons here.
Gadkari said that a bill in this regard has already been moved in Parliament and is expected to get its nod in the next session.

He said that Ganga, Bramhaputra, Mahanadi, Buckingham Canal between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and West Coast Canal in Kerala have already been designated as inland waterways.
The Union Minister said DPR has been prepared and work has started on the Rs 4,200 crore World Bank-assisted project to develop Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to Haldia in West Bengal for water traffic. It will also stretch upstream till Allahabad and Kanpur in later phases.
"Under this project, we will develop water-ports at Varanasi, Sahebganj (Jharkhand) and Haldia (West Bengal). Land has been acquired for these and work is going on. Seaplane other vessel berthing facility will also be a part of these water-ports," he said.