First cargo set sail for NE via inland waterways

Kolkata: In line with the Centre's focus on improving connectivity to Northeast, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) set sail the first container cargo from Haldia Dock Complex to Pandu in Guwahati via India Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route on Monday, said a statement.

Shipping Secretary Gopal Krishna flagged off the vessel, MV Maheshwari, carrying 53 containers of petrochemicals, edible oil and beverage. "New Feat! First ever Containerised Cargo on #Brahmaputra through integrated movement (NW1, Sunderbans, IBP N NW2), a total 1425 KMs of seamless connectivity…," IWAI said in a tweet.

The 12-15-day voyage will be an integrated movement via National Waterway (NW)-1 (river Ganga), NW-97 (Sunderbans), IBP route and NW-2 (river Brahmaputra), said IWAI in a statement.

This is expected to establish technical and commercial viability of Inland Water Transport.

(With inputs from Indian Express)