"Multimodal hub here will take the state to growth trajectory. This hub with rail, road and waterways connectivity will change the face of UP," Shipping Minister Gadkari said at a function here.
The minister said the phase 1 of the multi-modal terminal would be built at a cost of Rs 211 crore and would be ready by August 2018. The terminal is part of Rs 4,200-crore Jal Marg Vikas project to enable commercial navigation of vessels with capacity of 1,500-2,000 DWT Tonnage from Varanasi to Haldia.
The terminal will have road and rail connectivity with proposed links on NH-7 and Jeonathpur railway station, respectively. It will have facilities such as berthing space for two vessels simultaneously, storage area, transit shed, parking areas, among others.
Announcing to promote seaplanes on the Ganga river, the minister also said that next time he would be coming to Varanasi via seaplane.
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"We are also building two more terminals at Gazipur and Kalughat at a cost of Rs 250 crore besides 20 small terminals at an investment of Rs 500 crore. Ro-Ro crossings are planned at five cities including Varanasi, Patna and Kolkata at Rs 100 crore," he said.
Seven-star and five-star cruise services are being operationalised in 10 cities, including Varanasi, he said.
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The terminal will also have a floating jetty for passenger transportation.
Phase-1 of the project covers the Haldia-Varanasi stretch.
The Minister said the cargo on Varanasi-Haldia stretch would reach 200 lakh tonnes by 2020 from 25 lakh tonne at present.
The project includes development of fairway, construction of new multi-modal terminals at Varanasi, Haldia, and Sahibganj, strengthening of open river navigation system, conservancy works, modern River Information System (RIS), Digital Global Positioning System (DGPS), night navigation facilities, modern methods of channel marking, construction of a new navigational lock at Farakka, West Bengal, etc.
Gadkari said rail and road corridors of this region are already saturated. Hence, the development of NW-1 would result in a viable economical, efficient and eco-friendly mode of transport and huge quantities of cargo can be transported thereby helping in economic development of this region.