NEW DELHI: The freight movement on National Waterway-1, which is based along the river Ganga, has increased by 88 percent since 2017, the government said on March 22.
The cumulative freight movement on the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system or NW-1 in 2016-17 stood at 4.89 million tonne. It increased to 9.21 MT in 2020-21, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways said.
"Freight movement on NW-1 (The Ganga) has increased from 4.89 Million Tonne in 2016-17 to 9.21 MT in 202-21 thereby marking an increase of 88% since 2016-17 and Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17%," a statement issued by the ministry noted.
The statement also said that the Inland Waterways Authority of India has undertaken the implementation of the World Bank-assisted Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) at a total cost of Rs 4,634 crore. This includes the work on activities aligned to the Arth Ganga Concept at a cost of Rs 746 crore, it added.
"On the concept of Arth Ganga, JMVP-II was conceptualized in July 2020 with the objective of boosting socio-economic development and economic benefits to the farmers, traders & public living around the Ganga, logistics cost reduction, etc. Arth- Ganga programme is at the initial stage and is progressing as per the original schedule," the ministry further said.
Notably inland water transport (IWT) offers a cost-effective alternative to the popular modes of surface transport. Moving a tonne of freight via rail costs Rs 1.36 per kilometre and Rs 2.50/km via highways. In comparison, a cost of Rs 1.09/km would be incurred through IWT, the government said, citing the findings of the 'RITES Report of 2014'.
