PM Gati Shakti Multimodal Waterways Summit 2022 begins in Varanasi with the goal of strengthening the role of inland waterways. The two-day seminar, organised by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), will delve into the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, its components, and their significance as all-encompassing engines of economic growth.
Addressing the event, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, that the economy will not be strong unless the logistics system is improved. He further informed that the logistic policy of the government is expediting projects and programmes and because of the policies, every state today is advancing down the path of growth.
Seven Community Jetties were inaugurated
The summit has been organised to integrate the Ganga waterway in Varanasi, UP with different states and different modes of transportation. Union Minister Sabananda Sonowal inaugurated seven Community Jetties and also led the foundation stone of eight Community Jetties under Arth Ganga on NW-1 at Ravidas Ghat, Varanasi, in the presence of UP CM Yogi Adityanath.
“The Community Jetties and MoUs signed today at Varanasi will significantly benefit more than 7.5 crore people in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, and also the North East,” the Union Minister tweeted.
According to the Union Minister, there are 111 waterways in the country and the government has been taking various steps to improve logistics and make India self-reliant. The discussions and inputs received from experts during the summit are expected to help accelerate the growth and development of the nation.
The Union Minister said, “With PM Narendra Modi Ji’s margdarshan, we working together to strengthen connectivity and communication, and to transform the lives of citizens. I believe this Summit will broaden our outlooks and help us realise the dream of making India Aatmanirbhar.”
At the summit, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adithyanath, said, “The entire country is watching the progress that is being made in every field through the PM Gati Shakti Scheme. Uttar Pradesh is a key beneficiary of the scheme and has sufficient water resources available which will accelerate the pace of development.”
Commenting on the success of PM Gati Shakti, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said that not even the most developed countries in the world have a tool as effective as Gati Shakti. He further said that PM Gati Shakti is giving projects the much-needed momentum and has established itself as a major growth engine.
The Trade Facilitation Centre for Inland Water and Coastal Transport has recently unveiled a brand-new website where users of waterways and coastal ships may access pertinent operational and business data.
At the summit, an MoU for Assam’s hybrid catamarans to be powered by electric batteries was also inked by IWAI and Cochin Shipyard Ltd.
Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India informed that as part of the Jal Marg Vikas Project, the plan is to carry cargo and passengers from Varanasi right up to Haldia crisscrossing four states and then proceed to the North-eastern states of the nation via the IBP route, which passes via Bangladesh.
He further informed that the organization will be able to finalise a strategy and execution timeline for this with the support of the summit talks. He said that the infrastructure that was unveiled and the several memorandums of understanding that were signed at the summit will strengthen inland waterway transportation in a sustainable and green manner.
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