Kalughat IWT Terminal inaugurated in Bettiah

Bettiah: The Kalughat Inland Water Transport (IWT) Terminal and two community jetties were inaugurated by Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), here today.

Constructed at Rs. 82.48 crore, the terminal’s infrastructure includes a 125m x 30m berth with a capacity of 77,000 TEUs annually. The Kalughat Terminal will have direct road connectivity with NH-19 and is at a critical location for the transportation of cargo originating or destined for the hinterland of North Bihar.

The Minister said the projects worth Rs. 86 crore inaugurated today “will usher in all-round economic prosperity to the riverine community of Bihar through enhanced and smoother transportation of goods and passengers”.

Following the inauguration. Kalughat, strategically located on the north bank of the River Ganga in Bihar’s Saran District, emerges as a vital nexus in the region’s transportation network. With its direct access to NH-19, the terminal serves as a pivotal link for cargo movement, particularly for Nepal-bound shipments via Raxaul and the hinterland of North Bihar. 

Moreover, floating pontoon jetties at Mangalpur and Bettiah on the river Gandak have been established to connect Nepal and India via NW-37, representing an investment of Rs. 3.33 crore. These jetties, the Minister said, will significantly enhance market access for producers of various goods, fostering economic exchange and growth in the region.

“These projects mark a significant milestone in Bihar’s transportation infrastructure and reaffirm the commitment to leveraging the potential of inland waterways for inclusive growth and development,” he added.

Sonowal said in the last 10 years, four Multi-Modal Terminals have been developed on National Waterways which include MMT Varanasi, Sahibganj, Haldia and Kalughat.

“Three of our neighbouring countries, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar have been connected by waterways leading to an increase in regional trade,” he said.

It may be noted that, as a part of the Jal Marg Vikas Project, IWAI initiated the development of the IWT ecosystem for NW-1 through the construction of Multimodal Terminals (MMTs) and Intermodal Terminals (IMTs) for cargo handling along with the construction of navigational locks, carrying out fairway development for uninterrupted navigation, provision of night navigation and RIS facilities. The government has been undertaking various measures to develop National Waterways as a viable, thriving mode of transport, especially for cargo, to reduce logistics costs and make Indian industry.  The Number of operational waterways has increased to 23 from 05 in 2014. The cargo movement on National Waterways has increased to 126.15 million tons from April 2022- March 2023 against 108.79 million tons last year for the same period, recording 16 % growth.

As part of the comprehensive Maritime India Vision (MIV)-2030, the Government has outlined ambitious plans to elevate the share of Inland Water Transport (IWT) to 5%. The Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 aims to operationalize 50 waterways by 2047, facilitating efficient transportation networks nationwide.

The Sagarmala programme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is harnessing 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways. To unlock the potential of Waterways under the Sagarmala Programme includes a declaration of 111 (5 existing and 106 new) National Waterways (NWs) under the National Waterways Act, 2016. NW-I in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal; NW-2 in Assam; NW-3 in Kerala, have already been developed with fairway navigational aids, jetties and terminals with mechanised equipment handling facilities for loading of cargo. These waterways are operational and vessels are plying on them. In addition, NW-10 (river Amba), NW-68(river Mandovi), NW-73 (river Narmada), NW-83(Rajpuri Creek), NW-85 (Revadanda Creek- Kundalikariver system), NW-91 (Shastri river- Jaigad creek system), NW-97 (Sunderbans Waterways), NW-100 (river Tapti) and NW-111(river Zuari) are operational.

The ceremony was attended by Vijay Kumar Sinha, Deputy Chief Minister, Bihar; Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Member of Parliament, along with key officials from both central and state governments.

– global bihari bureau