New Delhi || 15-12-2024
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal launched a Cargo Promotion Scheme by flagging off 5 Cargo Ships from GR Jetty of Kolkata today. The scheme is known as ‘Jalvahak’. Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Dayashankar Singh, Transport Minister, Uttar Pradesh, T K Ramachandran, Secretary MoPSW, Vijay Kumar, Chairman, ICWI, Capt. B K Tyagi, Shipping Corporation of India were also present on the occasion.
The objective of the Scheme is to encourage modal shift of cargo to Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) mode by incentivising such shift and demonstrate the reliability as well as readiness of the IWT sector for the purpose of boosting confidence of the stakeholders.
This scheme is expected to divert 800 million tonne Km cargo on IWT mode, which is nearly 17% of the current cargo of 4700 million tonne Km on NWs. The scheme is currently proposed at a cost of less than Rs 100 Crore for three years and can be scaled up or modified depending on the success of the scheme.
Addressing the gathering Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, ” The significant of the occasion mainly to meet the vision set by Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. In this development journey of India we have to achieve the targeted destination that is to make India developed nation’Viksit Bharat’ self reliant nation ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ by 2047. As a matter of following of action our ministry has guided by the Honourable PM, rhe last 10 years have been successful delivering its responsibilities and also complying the obligation what ever needs to be very dedicatedly observed and I believe this vrey successful particular story , there my ministry and also respected officers involved in this journey”.
He further said “I am also thankful to the private stakeholders because, when this policy PPP, it needed to be grounded successfully, but now with the true co-operation, association, collaboration we could make it as a beautiful success model and this worth happened in the country”.
Focusing on importance of transportation Minister Sonowal added, ” In the last 10 years as the guidelines set by Honourable Prime Minister Reform, Perform, Transform. And without Transportation there can’t be transformation. These are the basic guidelines which is inspired everybody and wishes ultimately inspired everyone to have his/her thought clear about the future proceedings”.
Sonowal added, “The Cargo Promotion Scheme we launched today is a civil service is a true reflection of Modiji’s inspiration and his guidance behind this service. In future those stakeholders handling this Cargo investment, we expect you come to help the Waterways”.
Speaking on the occasion MoS , MoPSW Shantanu Thakur said, “The Honourable Prime Minister’s future thought also that to progress our nation and that is possible just by the transportation. You all know how rapidly developing our transportation specially in route and it can be increased by the waterways and that is also rapidly increasing the waterways that 111 waterways right now working in fast and developing the route”.
https://youtu.be/ce8PF27JjKQ?si=vCoa8x_TSCDMCG0y
Earlier in the welcome address Capt B K Tyagi informed the gathering that out of 5 Vessels started the voyage today, two Vessels of Cement moving to Pandu via Bangladesh, one vessel of imported coal to Varanasi, one vessel carrying gypsum to Patna.
On today’s Launch of ‘Jalvhak Scheme’ UltraTech sent 1500 MT of Cement to Pandu via Bangladesh and 1000 MT of Gypsum to Patna: and Bhuturia Group sent 200 MT of Coal to Varanasi.
Capt. Priya Ranjan Behera, Marine Head of UltraTech Group said, ” We are happy that Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways launched this Cargo Promotion Scheme which will definitely help the nation strengthening transportation mode using the waterways. Today we sent 1500 MT of Cement and 1000 MT of Gypsum. Inland Water Transport is an efficient and effective transport system, which we can use it to get the maximum result, glad that we are a part of it.”
Inland Water Transport is an efficient transport system, where there is optimal utilization of various modes of transport, is pivotal for enhancing logistics efficiencies and costs. This also leads to reduction in the transport sector related emissions in the country.
