Inland waterways most viable: Nitin Gadkari

Inland Waterways are economically the most viable mode of transport  and should be an integral part of infrastructure development in the country, according to minister of road transport and highways and shipping, Nitin Gadkari.

Inauguraing the National Conference on Inland Waterways: Issues, Options and Strategies, in New Delhi on Tuesday, Gadkari said that development of inland waterways would lower logistics costs of movement of goods, making products more competitive in the global market.

He added, the sector also had a huge potential for generating employment among the youth and hoped the Bill to declare 101 waterways as National Waterways would be passed in the forthcoming session of the Parliament.

Gadkari said the public-private partnership model of being used to develop inland waterways was currently being examined and the feasibility of joint ventures were also being explored to create infrastructure in the sector.

He said Government plans to establish facilities for ship-building and ship-repairing at Guwahati, Kandla and Andaman & Nicobar in the near future and 300 light houses and 1,100 islands would be developed as tourist hubs.

The day-long seminar deliberated upon issues like 'Dredging in National Waterways', 'River Cruise: Options and Challenges' and 'Overview of Jal Marg Vikas Project'. Secretary, Ministry of Shipping Shri Rajive Kumar delivered keynote address on the occasion.