‘Jalvahak’ Scheme to boost Inland Waterways

The Union Government of India has unveiled the ‘Jalvahak’ Scheme aimed at encouraging business enterprises to move cargo via inland waterways. This initiative focuses on providing safe, timely, and cost-effective delivery of cargo while promoting sustainable transportation across National Waterways (NW) - 1, NW-2, and NW-16.

Inland Waterways in India National Waterways: To promote Inland Water Transport, 111 waterways were declared as National Waterways under the National Waterways Act, 2016. Notable National Waterways include: NW-1: Haldia to Allahabad NW-2: Dhubri to Sadiya NW-16: Barak River Institutional Structure: The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) was established under the IWAI Act, 1985, and is responsible for the regulation and development of National Waterways in India.

About the Jalvahak Scheme

1. Ministry: Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.
2. Implementation: The scheme will be jointly implemented by:
   1. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
   2. Inland & Coastal Shipping Ltd (ICSL), a subsidiary of the Shipping Corporation of India.
3. Objective: The Jalvahak Scheme aims to incentivize the modal shift of 800 million tonnes-kilometers (MTKM) through an investment of ₹95.4 crores.
4. Time Frame: The scheme is valid for an initial period of 3 years.
5. Route: Fixed Day Scheduled Sailing Services will operate along the following stretches of National Waterways:
   1. NW-1: Kolkata – Patna – Varanasi – Patna – Kolkata
   2. NW-2: Kolkata – Pandu (Guwahati)
   3. NW-16: Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR)
6. Incentives: The scheme offers a reimbursement of up to 35% of the total operating expenditure incurred while transporting cargo via inland waterways.
7. Criteria for Eligibility: To qualify for the incentive, cargo must be transported via inland waterways for a distance of more than 300 km.
8. Significance: The scheme has several key benefits:
   1. Reduced logistics costs
   2. Decongestion of road and rail transportation
   3. Promotion of sustainable transportation modes

By encouraging the use of inland waterways, the Jalvahak Scheme will play a vital role in enhancing transportation efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and supporting economic growth through improved logistics networks in India.

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