Bonanza for Uttar Pradesh during Gati Shakti Summit

Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated as many as seven community jetties in Varanasi also laid the foundation stone of eight more jetties on the river Ganga in Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh has the distinction of around 70 jetties along the Ganga built in the last six years as part of the National Waterways One

 The city will get one Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vessel and four Electric Hybrid Vessels for Varanasi. An MoU was signed between the Inland Waterways Authority of India and Cochin Shipyard Limited for this purpose during the event.

Under the Jal Marg Vikas Project -II (JMVP-II), the central government’s Inland Waterways Authority of India IWAI is developing 62 small community jetties along the river Ganga. These include 15 in Uttar Pradesh, 21 in Bihar, 3 in Jharkhand and 23 in West Bengal.

In UP, jetties are being developed on a 250 km stretch between Varanasi and Ballia in the eastern part of the state. The jetties equipped with all passenger and administrative amenities will enable the movement of freight and passengers across the river resulting in time and cost savings.

Operational jetties can boost small-scale industries, enhance the region's cultural heritage, and generate employment opportunities that benefit communities. The focus on the development of inland waterways will help standardise development and operation, leading to better facilities and improvement in livelihood for local communities.

According to the MoU between IWAI and Cochin Shipyard Limited, the design and development of the Zero Emission 100 pax Hydrogen Fuel Cell Passenger Catamaran Vessel will be undertaken by CSL in collaboration with M/s KPIT, Pune.