(a) whether the Government proposes to introduce Roll-on and Roll-off (R-R) Service on Kolkata-Varanasi stretch of river Ganga for transportation of cars etc;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the present status of progress made under ''Jal Marg Vikas'' project on Allahabad-Haldia stretch of river Ganga;
(d) the funds allocated/utilised for the purpose; and
(e) the time limit fixed for completion of the said project?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING
(SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)
(a)&(b):Yes, Madam. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and M/s Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. for transportation of cars through inland vessels and the IWAI has planned transportation of cars from Varanasi to Kolkata on National Waterway-1 i.e. River Ganga.
(c)to(e):“Jal Marg Vikas” project has been undertaken in National Waterway-1 with technical and financial assistance of the World Bank for capacity augmentation of National Waterway - 1 from Haldia to Allahabad (1620 km). The project aims at developing the fairway to enable safe navigation of at least 1,500 ton vessels. The project would be completed over a period of six years at an estimated cost of approximately Rs.4,200 crore.
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