Country's first cargo movement via water on October 30

The Inland Waterways Authority (IWAI) is all for India's first container transportation on the Ganga between Kolkata and Varanasi making movement of cargo a cost effective and environment friendly

The country's first container movement on Inland Vessel post-independence is scheduled on October 30.

"This will go down as a milestone moment in the history of India's Inland Waterway Transport sector. It will prove to be another testament for waterways being the preferred transport modal choice among cargo owners owing to its cost effectiveness and environment friendliness," a statement from Inland Waterways Authority of India under the Ministry of Shipping said.

The cargo to be transported belongs to food and Beverage giant PepsiCo. Sixteen containers will be transported from Kolkata to Varanasi on river Ganga (National Waterway-1).

Secretary (Shipping) Shri Gopal Krishna along with Chairman, IWAI, Shri Pravir Pandey and other senior Government officials will flag off the vessel carrying the consignment in the presence of PepsiCo representatives.

"PepsiCo (India) will move 16 containers — equivalent to 16 truckloads — filled with food and snacks in the vessel MV RN Tagore which will reach Varanasi in 9-10 days," the statement said.

MV RN Tagore will make its return journey with fertilizers belonging to IFFCO that will be procured from its Phulpur plant near Allahabad.

WATER MOVEMENT

The government is developing NW-1 (River Ganga) from Haldia to Varanasi (1,390 Km) with the technical and financial assistance of the World Bank at an estimated cost of Rs 5,369 crore. The project would enable commercial navigation of vessels with capacity of 1,500-2,000 DWT.