Plan to upgrade water transport.

The World Bank is developing a strategic plan to upgrade the waterways in Assam.

A World Bank official told The Telegraph that it has received a request from the Centre to support inland waterways development in Assam. 'It could include developing a strategic inland waterways plan and strengthening the passenger ferry services to make it safer and more efficient. Specific details are under discussion,' he said.

The bank has accepted the request from the Centre through Assam and is likely to provide Rs. 1,000 crore. The project cost could change later as contribution will have to come from the Centre too.

'The issue has been discussed with the state government officials concerned and our nod to the project has been conveyed,' the official said.

Assam has the largest inland waterways network in the country and the state's navigable inland waterways extend to 1,983km out of India's total 14,544km, comprising 44 rivers, the longest being the Brahmaputra, followed by the Barak river system. While the Brahmaputra from Sadiya to Dhubri (891km) is already functioning as National Waterway 2, the Barak river is under active consideration for declaration as a national waterway.

A project information document will be prepared, and it will act as the concept note for the project.

The project, which was submitted last year, has two components - long-term strategic plan and institutional and capacity development and improvement of passenger ferry services.

A detailed presentation on inland water transport on National Waterway 2 was given by a senior official of the Inland Waterways Authority of India at the recently concluded North East Connectivity Summit in Shillong.

The project has been recommended by the Inland Waterways Authority of India as well as the ministry of shipping and department of economic affairs.

The DoNER ministry has concurred to the proposal with some observations, which has been taken care of, according to the state government.

The benefits of inland water transport as compared to road transport is its low capital cost, fuel cost, maintenance cost and carriage cost.

Another good news is that out of the 18 in the Northeast, 11 inland waterways of Assam will soon be declared as national waterways by the Centre. This was done to accelerate the coverage of inland water transport.

The Union cabinet in March this year had approved the proposal for enactment of a central legislation for declaring 101 additional waterways as national waterways for navigation.

Feasibility studies and detailed project reports are being prepared for these waterways.

THE TELEGRAPH