| |
| It will request the ministry of external affairs to include relevant clauses in the Indo-Nepal treaty to enable trade through inland waterways.
|
| |
| This would help India to save a lot in terms of fuel costs, an official said.
|
| |
| At present, cargo travels from Haldia to Nepal by road. According to the new plan, transportation will take place in two stages. Cargo could be taken to Patna via National Waterway-I, which connects Allahabad to Kolkata, while the rest of the way to Nepal could be traversed by road.
|
| |
| The development of national waterways is also on the agenda of the Rs 100,000 crore Sagar Mala project.
|
| |
| Shipping Secretary D T Joseph said the maritime sector had a huge potential, which he hoped would be tapped through the Sagar Mala project.
|
| |
| The ministry may also be interested in development of a cruise terminal at Guwahati so that cruise liners can operate between the Assam capital and Dibrugarh.
|
| |
| The secretary, however, said these plans were at a raw stage and details like funding and infrastructural requirements needed to be worked out.
|
| |
| Joseph said setting up of various committees without proper planning would serve no purpose.
|
| |
| Only when a proper outline of the Sagar Mala project was ready and the specifications were firmed up, the ministry would establish a task force for implementing the project, he added.
|
| |
| Joseph stressed effective marketing for attracting private players. He said the ministry was looking at the possibility of conducting roadshows to educate private parties about investment opportunities in the maritime sector.
|
| |
| The Sagar Mala project, announced by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on August 15, envisages an integrated development of the shipping sector, in which apart from ports, the government would also pay attention to development of the inland waterway transport system and granting rail and road connectivity to ports.
|
| |
| According to rough estimates, Rs 60,000 crore will be allocated for the development of ports, while shipping and inland water transport will be allocated Rs 15,000 crore each. |
| |
