Jalvahak to Boost Cargo Movement thru inland waterways

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Mr Sarbananda Sonowal ecently unveiled a major policy for Cargo Promotion – ‘Jalvahak’ – incentivising movement of long haul cargo via National Waterways 1 (river Ganga) as well as for National Waterways 2 (river Brahmaputra) and National Waterways 16 (river Barak).

The Union Minister also flagged off cargo ships – MV AAI, MV Homi Bhaba along with MV Trishul with two Dumb Barges Ajay & Dikhu – from the GR Jetty.

This marks the beginning of fixed Scheduled Service of Cargo Vessels from Haldia for NW 1 and NW 2. The Fixed Day Scheduled Sailing Service will ply vessels between Kolkata – Patna – Varanasi – Patna – Kolkata stretch of NW 1 and between Kolkata and Pandu in Guwahati on NW 2 via Indo Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR).

Speaking on the occasion, the Mr Sonowal said, “Jalvahak scheme incentivises long haul cargo on NW1, NW2 & and NW16, and provides an opportunity for the trade interests to explore movement of cargo via waterways with positive economic value proposition.”

The cargo promotion scheme provides direct incentive to the cargo owners to transport their goods via inland waterways for a distance of more than 300 kms.

This is a joint effort by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency of waterways development in the country, as well as by the Inland & Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL), a fully owned subsidiary of the Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCIL).

The ‘Jalvahak’ scheme encourages reducing logistics costs, decongest- ing road and railways, and adapting to a sustainable mode of transportation.

The scheme also offers reimbursement upto 35% of total operating expenditure incurred while transporting cargo via waterways on NW 1 (Ganga river), NW 2 (Brahmaputra river) & NW 16 (Barak river) via  Indo Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route. The scheme is initially valid for 3 years.