• Source:JND
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The Union Government has announced plans to develop a cheaper and efficient freight transport option through waterways for Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bengal, and Bihar. Patna is set to become a major hub in the waterways sector, with the construction of a water metro system, cruise maintenance terminals, and 16 additional jetties. The National Institute of Nautical and Inland Navigation (NINI) office in Patna will be upgraded to a Centre of Excellence. A task force will be formed within a month to explore further opportunities for developing waterways in Bihar.

Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal made these announcements while addressing a workshop organised by the Ministry of Waterways at Gyan Bhawan, near Gandhi Maidan, Patna. He emphasised that water transport is a more accessible and cost-effective mode compared to road and rail, predicting that waterways will become the cheapest transport option in Bihar in the coming years.

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A feasibility report is underway for the Patna Water Metro project, expected to launch within the next one and a half to two years. The government is also investing in a ship repair centre in Patna costing Rs 50 crore, and a RO-PAX terminal valued at Rs 6 crore. Development plans also include waterways in the Gandak and Kosi rivers, with detailed project reports (DPRs) being prepared.

Under the Arth Ganga program, 60 community jetties have been created to connect local communities to markets. Two jetties will be constructed at Triveni Ghat for Rs 4 crore.

Highlighting the economic potential of India’s rivers, Sonowal noted that the number of national waterways has risen from five in 2014 to 111 today. The volume of goods transported via waterways has increased from 18 million tons in 2013-14 to 145 million tons currently.

National Waterway-1, spanning 1,620 kilometres from Haldia to Prayagraj, will see the development of multi-modal terminals in Varanasi, Sahibganj, Haldia, and Kalughat, along with projects like the navigation lock at Farakka and a night navigation system for ships.

Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh described waterways as a key development model for Bihar, urging the construction of a terminal in Begusarai and supporting Patna’s Water Metro and river tourism initiatives.

Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary echoed this, calling for a multimodal terminal in Bhagalpur and announcing a ship and cruise maintenance centre in Patna. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha emphasised that waterways offer the cheapest mode of cargo transport and will boost Bihar’s economy.

Water Resources Minister Vijay Chaudhary highlighted the urgent need for dredging rivers, citing the National Silt Management Policy being developed at Bihar’s request. He advised that ships maintain a safe distance of 250 meters from embankments to preserve river velocity and navigation safety.

Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena underlined the cost benefits of waterways transport—Rs 1.06 per metric ton, compared to Rs 2.5 by road and Rs 1.41 by rail—and stressed the importance of large-scale development in Bihar’s waterways.

Officials also discussed the potential of developing Kachchi Dargah as a multi-modal transport junction and expanding waterways usage for transporting sand, stones, and boosting tourism along rivers like the Son, Kosi, and Gandak.

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The workshop was attended by transport ministers from Uttar Pradesh and Bengal, Bihar officials, MPs including Ravishankar Prasad and Sudama Prasad, Inland Waterways Authority Chairman Vijay Kumar, district magistrates, and other dignitaries.

Messages from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi were also read out, applauding the initiative to strengthen Bihar’s waterways infrastructure.