IWAI inks MoUs with Dredging Corporation of India, Paradip Port Trust and Mormugao Port Trust

Sept 29, 2016: In a bid to ensure the development of the National Waterways in a time-bound and effective manner The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has signed three separate Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dredging Corporation of India (DCI), Paradip Port Trust (PPT) and Mormugao Port Trust (MPT).

The agreements were signed in the presence of the minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.

The responsibilities of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) have increased manifold after the declaration of 106 new National Waterways, in addition to the existing 5 National Waterways, under the National Waterways Act, 2016.

While the MoU with DCI will enable IWAI to maintain navigable depth in National Waterways, the MoUs with PPT and MPT will help IWAI to develop National Waterway-5 in Odisha and various National Waterways in Goa, respectively.

Under the MoU with DCI, the asset base of IWAI would be supplemented by DCI by purchasing or leasing shallow depth dredgers and operating them in National Waterways. DCI will also prepare cost estimates and determine the duration of the dredging projects.

The MoU between MPT and IWAI will assist IWAI in the development of National Waterways like Mandovi river (NW-68), Zuari river (NW-111), Chapora river (NW-25), Cumbharjua canal (NW-27), Mapusa river (NW-71), and Sal river (NW-88) in Goa.

IWAI and MPT will jointly work to achieve fairway development of the 182-Km stretch in Goa which includes dredging, river training works, bank protection, navigation aids, Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) etc. MPT will also provide project management supervision services related to the infrastructure works in the NWs.

The agreement between IWAI and PPT will result in a collaboration between the two parties to develop a viable navigation system on NW-5 in Odisha for Phase-1 (Pankapal-Paradip/Dhamra-212 Km on the Brahmaniand Mahanadi river system) to facilitate the movement of cargo vessels of economical size and viable capacity.

PPT will cooperate and assist IWAI in project management, supervision, services including planning, designing, consultancy in respect of the works related to fairway development, terminals construction and other related infrastructure works on NW-5.