India has started its very first special cargo service to move goods on its rivers. This service will use boats to carry cargo between Kolkata, Patna, and Varanasi on National Waterway 1 (NW 1) and from Kolkata to Pandu in Guwahati on National Waterway 2 (NW 2).
At a ceremony to celebrate this launch, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said this plan aims to make transporting goods easier and reduce traffic on roads and trains. The new Jalvahak scheme will give incentives to businesses for transporting large amounts of goods over long distances through these waterways.
The first boat, named MV Trishul, is carrying 1,500 tonnes of cement from Kolkata to Pandu. Another boat, MV Aai, is transporting 1,000 tonnes of gypsum to Patna, and the third boat, MV Homi Bhaba, has 200 tonnes of coal heading to Varanasi.
This new cargo service not only promises to deliver goods more quickly and on time but also encourages businesses to trust in the ability of India’s waterways to handle transport efficiently. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Inland & Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL) are working together on this great initiative!
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