BJP Lok Sabha MP from Visakhapatnam K Hari Babu today said that the central government is keen on starting inland waterways of more than 600 kms connecting Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry for transportation of commercial goods.
The project estimated to cost Rs 2,400 crore, aims to connect canals between Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh's Godavari district to Puducherry, he said at a press conference here.
The minister stated that National Waterway 4 (NW-4) is currently under development and connects Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. It is being developed by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
He said NW-4 had been divided into four major cargo belts namely Kakinada, Krishna, South Andhra Pradesh and Chennai.
As per surveys, 11 million tonnes of cargo is expected to be transported through NW- 4 every year.
The cargoes may include coal, food grains, cement, fertilisers, forest products and salt among others.
A consultative meet on inland waterway project will be held tomorrow at Vijayawada. Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Shipping P Radhakrishnan, MPs from coastal Andhra, among others, will attend the meeting, Hari Babu added.
He also asked Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to take steps to constitute a board to develop ports and coastal shipping in the State.
