Multi-Modal Waterways Terminal in Varanasi inaugurated

November 13, 2018: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the multi-modal hub at Varanasi under the Jal Marg Vikas (JMV) Project. The hub is part of National Waterways-1 (NW-1) connecting Varanasi to Haldia.

Belonging to the beverage giant PepsiCo (India), 16 containers were moved from Kolkata to Varanasi on river Ganga (NW-1). The vessel MV RN Tagore, which carried the containers, equivalent to 16 truckloads, was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the newly developed multi-modal terminal.

National Waterway-1 (Haldia-Varanasi stretch) is being developed with technical assistance and investment support from the World Bank. The JMV project will have three multi-modal hubs (at Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia), two inter-modal hubs, five Roll On – Roll Off (Ro-Ro) terminal pairs and new navigation lock at Farakka across the entire stretch of river Ganga. The route will officially make NW-1 operational for ferrying cargo vessels.

The project aims at developing the stretch between Varanasi and Haldia on river Ganga for navigation of large vessels weighing up to 1,500 tonnes to 2,000 tonnes.