NEW DELHI: Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (IC) Shri Mansukh Mandviya has said in the Lok Sabha that a riverine or inland port will soon be constructed on the bank of Gandak river in Saran district. The minister, however, added that Bihar does not need a port at Paradip in Odisha. The state government has been pursuing the matter with the Odisha government. Mandviya said the riverine port in Bihar will suffice the need of movement of cargo for import- export purpose.

“Your government wants to have a port at Paradip. You do not need to construct a port at Paradip. A riverine port will be constructed in your state itself, which will facilitate the movement of cargo from Bihar. You will be directly connected to sea through waterways and you will be able to do exim (export-import) cargo movement,” Mandviya told Saran MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy in reply to his starred question in the Lok Sabha on March 18.

The minister said a cargo terminal is also proposed to be developed at Kalu Ghat in Saran district.

Incidentally, a team of senior officials from Bihar government had held a meeting with Odisha government officials at Bhubaneshwar on March 2 on the proposal to set up a port facility on Odisha coast.

As per a statement issued by Rudy, he said in the Lok Sabha that National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) constructed Chhapra-Muzaffarpur highway. Rudy said the inland waterways-37 has been declared, which will start from Sonepur up to Kathmandu.

Mandviya assured Rudy about the movement of big vessels on the said waterways. He said a draft of 2.5 metres is available at Kalu Ghat, which will be sufficient for the movement of middle-sized vessels.