Cargo operations to start at Kolaghat jetty from March 2020

Kolkata: Kolaghat, recently declared as the extended part of India-Bangladesh protocol (route), is expected to transport cargo from March 2020.

"There is a huge demand of cargo in Kolaghat. We are expecting that before March 2020

operations will commence on Rupnarayan

river (Kolaghat jetty)," said Pravir Pandey, chairman of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).

The existing protocol routes are Kolkata-Pandu-Kolkata, Kolkata-Karimganj- Kolkata, Rajshahi-Dhulian-Rajshahi and Pandu-Karimganj-Pandu.

Rupnarayan river (National Waterway -86) connects with river Ganga (National Waterway -1) at Geokhali near Haldia. The IWAI had earlier urged the Bengal government to spruce up a road of 4 km leading to the highway from the Kolaghat jetty in East Midnapore to facilitate the transport of cargo from it.

"We are inclined to do this with West Bengal government which is also happy to re-construct the road. We have got permission to operate our jetty at Kolaghat. It might need some dredging," he added. Pandey felt that the country can benefit more both socially and economically by developing the inland waterways. IWAI expects a lot of fly ash movement from Kolaghat to Bangladesh with Indian vessels being able to load it, once the Kolaghat jetty gets operational.