The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Shipping, is appointing a consultant in a few months' time to develop the National Waterway no. 4 (the stretch of canals from Kakinada to Puducherry including Buckingham canal) in consultation with the Union Ministry of Finance, according to Ms Bhupender Prasad, the Chairperson.

She, along with the other members of the IWAI, was interacting with the local media in the Visakhapatnam container terminal here on Wednesday. She was on a tour to study the potential of developing inland waterways in Andhra Pradesh.

Ms Bhupender Prasad said that mid-way through the Eleventh Plan in 2008 the Kakinada-Puducherry stretch of canals had been declared a National Waterway (no. four) and no funds had been allocated in the Plan for the purpose. The Planning Commission had suggested roping in the private sector and viability gap funding for taking up the works. “It involves revival of the Buckingham canal in disuse for so long, dredging at many places and widening the canals. The Godavari and Krishna canals in Andhra Pradesh also form part of the project. We have invited expression of interest (EOI) for the project work and we are also working with the Union Ministry of Finance to appoint a consultant for the project. The preparatory work is being done,” she explained.

ADB support being sought

The National Waterway Four comprises a stretch from Bhadrachalam to Rajahmundry on the river Godavari (157 km), another from Wazirabad to Vijayawada on the river Krishna (171 km), Kakinada canal from Kakinada to Rajahmundry (50 km), Eluru canal (from Rajahmundry to Vijayawada - 139 km), Commamuru canal (from Vijayawada to Pedaganjam - 113 km), north Buckingham canal (Pedaganjam to Chennai - 315 km) and south Buckingham canal (Chennai to Markanam - 110 km). The waterways runs through Andhra Pradesh (888 km), Tamil Nadu (187 km) and Puducherry (2 km), the total length being 1,077 km. However, a 50-km stretch of Buckingham canal passes through Chennai metropolitan area, under heavy encroachments and also occupied by MRTS. Therefore, the effective length of the waterway is only 1,027 km.

Mr R.P Khare, a member of the IWAI, said the cost of the project, according to 2010 rates, was Rs 1,515 crore. Ms Bhupender Prasad said the IWAI was also approaching the Asian Development Bank for technical and financial support in executing the project. She said the objective was to make at least a stretch of waterway operational during the Twelfth Plan period, considering its commercial viability.

She said EOI had been invited for National Waterway Five - East Coast canal connecting Talcher-Kalinganagar area to Mangalgadi (a point between Paradip port and Dhamra) and it would further connect to a point near Kolkata. This waterway, integrated with Brahmani and Mahanadi river systems, would be of immense benefit to Orissa, she added.

She said a lot needed to be done on improving the waterways in the country, as only 65-70 million tonnes of cargo was being moved through waterways, and most of it only in Goa (nearly 54 million tonnes). “However, we have made a beginning. In future, this mode of transport will become increasingly important in the economic development of the nation,” she remarked.

Capt Sriram Ravichander, Chief Operating Officer of Visakha Container Terminal Ltd, also spoke.

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