India's Inland Waterways
The Jal Marg Vikas Project
How the World Bank-supported Jal Marg Vikas Project built multimodal terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia and a navigational lock at Farakka to boost NW-1.
The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) upgrades NW-1.
Funding
Supported by the World Bank, approved in 2018.
Components
- Multimodal terminals at Varanasi (opened 2018), Sahibganj and Haldia.
- A new navigation lock at Farakka.
- Dredging and navigation aids.
First container
In 2018, a container vessel carried PepsiCo goods from Kolkata to Varanasi.
Challenges
- Terminals were underused at first.
- Cargo owners need reliable schedules.
Economics
Infrastructure needs cargo demand to pay off.
The Varanasi terminal
Barges unload fertiliser at the Varanasi terminal, where trucks take it onward.
Thinking building terminals guarantees cargo
Reliability and demand matter.
Key takeaways
- JMVP is World Bank-supported.
- It built terminals and a Farakka lock.
- The Varanasi terminal opened in 2018.
- Terminals were underused at first.
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