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This operation is in accordance with MoU signed between NTPC and Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) for transportation of imported coal coal from Haldia to Farakka by inland waterways. Following the signing of MoU, on behalf of NTPC, IWAI had floated a tender for creation of infrastructure as well as transportation of coal on the waterways from sandheads to Farakka NTPC plant.
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Jindal ITF was selected by IWAI in a open competetive bidding for an investment of about Rs 650 crore. “A fleet of 23 barges would transport three million tonnes of imported coal to NTPC's power plant at Farakka per annum through inland waterways for seven years,” a senior official of Jindal ITF said.
NTPC would get the imported coal for Farkka plant from countries Indonesia, Australia, Africa, which the large ships would bring to sandheads in the high seas. Jindal ITF will unload and transport imported coal from high seas to the Farakka plant, for which they have created infrastructure including a mid-sea transfer point, all the way to the NTPC coal stock yaerd.
According to, IWAI chairman Amitabh Verma, the transportation of coal through inland waterways will be about 15% cheaper than transportation by roadways or railways.
“This project would be a role model for us. We are exploring opportunities to explore more such options where inland waterways can be used for transportation,” Union Shipping minister T G K Vasan said.
"IWAI is developing first 3 National Waterways namely NW-1 (on the Ganga), NW-2 (Brahmaputra) and NW-3 (on the West Coast Canal system) for shipping and navigation by providing navigational channel with targeted depth and width for most part of the year," he added.
Incidentally, competitive bids for another similar project for transportation of coal from Haldia to NTPC's Barh power plant(located on Ganga river, about 60 Km from Patna). Jindal ITF has submitted its bid for that project too along with some other players.
