Sonowal inaugurates key IWT terminal, jetties to boost connectivity

New Delhi: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday inaugurated the Kalughat Inland Water Transport (IWT) Terminal and two community jetties in Bihar and said the projects will usher in all-round economic prosperity to the riverine community of of the state, according to an official statement.

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The IWT terminal constructed at Rs 82.48 crore will enhance capacity of 77,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) annually, it added.

Kalughat, strategically located on the north bank of the River Ganga in Bihar's Saran District, emerges as a vital nexus in the region's transportation network.

The terminal will have direct road connectivity with NH-19 and is at a critical location for the transportation of cargo originating or destined for the hinterland of North Bihar, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said in the statement.

As a part of the Jal Marg Vikas Project, IWAI initiated the development of the IWT ecosystem for NW-1 through the construction of Multimodal Terminals (MMTs) and Intermodal Terminals (IMTs) for cargo handling.

As part of the comprehensive Maritime India Vision (MIV)-2030, the government has outlined ambitious plans to elevate the share of Inland Water Transport (IWT) to 5 percent.

The Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 aims to operationalise 50 waterways by 2047, facilitating efficient transportation networks nationwide.

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