Guwahati: Maiden Scheduled Cargo Service Successfully docks at Pandu, Carries 1,500 Tons from Kolkata

GUWAHATI: The Indian PM's scheme to revolutionize the logistics sector has made a vital stride forward by completing the maiden voyage of its vessel, MV Trishul.

In collaboration with barges Ajay and Dikshu, it transported 1,500 tons of cement from Kolkata to Pandu by way of the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route. This is a major breakthrough for the inland waterway transportation system in India.

The Jalvahak scheme should encourage businesses to route long-distance cargo into India's massive river network. This project deals with three key National Waterways: NW 1 (River Ganga), NW 2 (River Brahmaputra), and NW 16 (River Barak). The scheme provides fixed-day scheduled freight services between Kolkata, Patna, Varanasi, and Pandu.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, called the journey a landmark one. He said the freight transport on waterways reduces logistics costs and relieves the roads and rails from congestion while also providing an alternative mode of transport that is environmentally friendly. Sonowal added that the Modi government is working towards modernizing India's logistics infrastructure.

The successful completion of this journey shows the immense potential of waterways as an efficient and eco-friendly transportation mode," said Sonowal. "With initiatives like the Jalvahak scheme, we are working towards transforming logistics in India and empowering businesses with cost-effective and reliable options.

The scheme incentivizes cargo owners who transport more than 300 kilometers of freight by water. This is an initiative of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) in partnership with its subsidiary, the Inland & Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL), which itself is a subsidiary of the Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCIL). The scheme aims to minimize logistics costs while decongesting other modes of transport as it is consistent with the vision of sustainability of the government.

The maiden journey of MV Trishul is a promising start, showcasing the potential of India's inland waterways to become a cornerstone of the country's logistics and transportation system.

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