Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday unveiled a major policy for cargo promotion – ‘Jalvahak’ – incentivising movement of long haul cargo via National Waterways on rivers Ganga, Brahmaputra and Barak.

Sonowal also flagged off cargo ships – MV AAI, MV Homi Bhaba along with MV Trishul with two Dumb Barges Ajay & Dikhu – from Garden Reach Jetty in Kolkata. This marked the beginning of a fixed scheduled service of cargo vessels from Haldia in National Waterways 1 (Ganga) and National Waterways 2 (Brahmaputra).

The fixed-day scheduled sailing service will see vessels ply on the 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 Union Minister said, “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has made a concerted effort to realise the tremendous potential of our rich network of inland waterways. With its advantage of being an economical, ecologically sound and an efficient mode of transportation, we want to boost cargo movement via waterways, to decongest the railways and roadways.”

Good for business

Jalvahak scheme incentivises long-haul cargo on NW1, NW2 and NW16 (river Barak) and provides an opportunity for the trade interests to explore movement of cargo via waterways with positive economic value proposition, he said.

“Further, the regular scheduled freight service, which began from Kolkata, will ensure that the cargo is transported and delivered within a stipulated time frame. This will also generate confidence among our users about the readiness of national waterways for regular movement of cargo in an efficient, economical and environmentally responsible mode of transportation,” Sonowal added.

The Jalvahak scheme offers reimbursement of up to 35 per cent of total operating expenditure incurred while transporting cargo via waterways on NW 1, NW 2 and NW 16 via the IBP route. The scheme encourages cargo owners to hire vessels owned or operated by organisations other than Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) or Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCIL).

The scheme is ideal for major shipping companies, freight forwarders, trade bodies and associations that handle bulk and containerised cargo. Through this scheme, they optimise their supply chain network.

Published on December 15, 2024