National Waterway-1 can increase Bihar’s GDP by 1.33%: state transport secretary

February 11, 2020: Sanjay K Agarwal, secretary - transport, government of Bihar informed the estimation that the increased use of inland waterways by businesses in the state to transport cargo could increase its GDP by 1.33 percent in the medium term.

He was talking during the ‘Stakeholders Interaction for Development and Promotion of Cargo Movement on National Waterway-1’ jointly organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) – Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) in Patna today.

There would be 1.33% increase in GDP of Bihar if inland waterways are used in medium term: Mr Sanjay K Agarwal, Secretary - Transport, Government of Bihar during FICCI-IWAI Stakeholders interaction for Development and Promotion of Cargo Movement on NW-1 in Patna. pic.twitter.com/kYupvaATDb

— FICCI (@ficci_india) February 11, 2020

Let's take a look into what FICCI and IWAI has to speak about developing NW-1.

Maintain 3 metre depth to move goods throughout the year: Pravir Pandey, VC, IWAI

IWAI is focussing on maintaining a 3 m depth during the offseason thereby helping the industry to transport goods throughout the year: Mr Pravir Pandey, VC, @IWAI_ShipMin during FICCI-IWAI Stakeholders Consultation for Development & Promotion of Cargo Movement on NW-1 in Patna. pic.twitter.com/ciNQkgNPSO

— FICCI (@ficci_india) February 11, 2020

2.5% increase in freight on waterways by 2025: Amita Prasad, chairperson, IWAI

We want to increase the freight movements through waterways to 2.5% in the next 5 years: Dr Amita Prasad, Chairperson, Inland Waterways Authority of India during FICCI-IWAI Stakeholders interaction for Development and Promotion of Cargo Movement on NW-1 in Patna. pic.twitter.com/OVrKc47zk2

— FICCI (@ficci_india) February 11, 2020

Inland waterways require new ships: AK Singh, chairman, Subcommittee on Inland Waterways, FICCI

New ships must be designed with economically viable payload at 2 m draft: Mr AK Singh, Chairman, FICCI Subcommittee on Inland Waterways during FICCI-IWAI Stakeholders interaction for Development and Promotion of Cargo Movement on NW-1 in Patna pic.twitter.com/Y08EsdH6hN

— FICCI (@ficci_india) February 11, 2020

National Waterway-1 in Bihar

NW-1 is the 1620 kilometre water system starts from Allahabad, officially known as Prayagraj, in Uttar Pradesh and goes till Haldia in West Bengal. The system comprises rivers Ganga, Bhagirathi and Hoogly with 12 river ports/terminals. With four terminals at Buxar, Ballia, Patna and Bhagalpur, Bihar has 450 kilometres of NW-1 flowing right through its heartland.