IWAI inks 3 MoUs with DCI and MPT for inland water transport

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has signed three separate MoUs with Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) and Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) to accelerate the development of inland water transport sector as an alternative mode of transport in Panaji.

The MoUs were signed on Wednesday in presence of the Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi.

"Development of Inland Water Transport is a priority of the Ministry of Shipping. After the declaration of 106 new National Waterways, in addition to the existing five National Waterways, under the National Waterways Act, 2016, the responsibilities of the IWAI have increased manifold," a spokesman from the Shipping Ministry said in a press release in Panaji.

"These MoUs are meant to make use of the synergies, strengths and expertise of the Ports and Dredging sectors to enable the IWAI to accelerate the development of Inland Water Transport sector as an alternative, viable and environment friendly mode of transport," the spokesman said.

While the MoU with DCI will enable the IWAI to maintain navigable depth in National Waterways, the MoUs will help the IWAI to develop National Waterway in Odisha and various National Waterways in Goa, he added.

He said the MoU between the IWAI and DCI is to ensure development of the fairways, the dredging responsibilities of the IWAI are expected to increase rapidly in the next few years.

"Under the MoU, DCI will supplement the asset base of the IWAI by purchasing/leasing shallow depth dredgers and operating them in National Waterways. DCI will also prepare cost estimates and determine the duration of the dredging projects," he added.

"In regards to MoU between the IWAI and MPT, there will bedevelopment of National Waterways like Mandovi, Zuari, Chapora, Mapusa and Sal rivers and Cumbharjua canal," the spokesman said.

"IWAI and MPT will jointly work to achieve fairway development of the 182-Km stretch in Goa which includes dredging, river training works, bank protection, navigation aids, Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) etc. MPT will also provide project management supervision services related to the infrastructure works in the national waterways," he added.