Infrastructure

KEY POINTS

Challenges with inland waterways

·        The sector requires huge investment to develop navigable routes, connectivity infrastructure to and from hinterland, terminals, vessels and repairing facilities.

·        In many States, there are ferry services on national waterways, but these are mostly unorganised country boats.

·        Terminal facilities are also woefully inadequate in states like Kerala and Assam.

·        Due to unplanned infrastructures along the river banks there are threats to biodiversity.

·        Industries are hesitant to use the inland water ways due to lack of promotion and incentives from the government’s part.

Steps to boost Inland water ways

·        Private Partnership - The government should focus on developing navigation, channel operation and maintenance, and external connectivity infrastructure.

·        Private players can undertake terminal development, cargo and passenger handling, and building low-draft vessels and related repair facilities.

·        Industrial Incentives - The Government can mandate/incentivise industries in the proximity of national waterways to use this mode for a portion of their shipments.

·        Public sector entities such as Food Corporation of India, power plants and refineries can be similarly mandated.

·        Sustainable transport model - For synergy, the government can promote industrial corridors along riverbanks and foster waterways-based industrialisation.

·        This will not only ensure captive IWT cargo, but also tackle erosion of riverbanks as industries will tend to protect the land allotted to them.

·        Promoting tourism - Along with passenger terminal development, the government needs to offer financial support to ferry operators to improve safety, and facilitate insurance coverage.

·        The Centre and States need to join hands to package and market river tourism in a big way to trigger a virtuous cycle.