Inland Waterways - India's Green Highways

Inland Waterways - India's Green Highways

India's National Waterways (NWs) are still under-utilised and substantial cargo is yet not being transported on it. Inland water transport is a climate-friendly, fuel-efficient and cost-effective mode of transport, especially for bulk cargo such as coal, cement, steel, foodgrains, over-dimensional goods etc.

Due to impressive economic growth made by India in the last decade or so and the consequent need for transport of bulk goods, Inland Water Transport assumes greater significance. Capacity expansion of traditional transport modes, namely rail and road is capital intensive, time-consuming and involves the complex issue of land acquisition. There are 14,500 km of navigable inland waterways in the country.

Over dimensional cargo weighing over 100 tonnes and above can only be carried through Inland Waterways as roads and over-bridges in the country are not designed to cater to the movement of such heavy and over-sized cargo. The only option left is to move them through Inland Waterways.

Coastal shipping and Inland Waterways have several advantages over the conventional mode of transport. It is:

1. Energy efficient

2. Cost effective

3. Land Neutral and

4. Environmentally friendly.

Owing to these attributes the shipping ministry has proposed that these modes of transport be exempt from service tax. Currently the share of goods moved through inland waterways is even lower, at less than 0.5 per cent, despite the country having nearly 14,500 km of navigable waterways.

There are several factors which have hindered the growth of traffic in the inland water transport. They are:

Lack of the depth and width required for the movement of Inland Water Transport vessels (IWTs)

* few cargo terminals,

* inadequate road-rail connectivity,

* a dearth of IWT vessels.

The shipping ministry is seeking private sector participation for acquisition of barges and construction of jetties on the inland water transport network.

by: Prakhil shipping

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