Bharatmala/ Sagarmala and Inland Waterways Infrastructure Projects
- Thread starter Ashwin
- Start date
I am a regular at Ganga Ghat of Garh Mukteswar and I can ssay that there is a noticeable improvement in water.
Yes, I also see the improvement in water quality in Varanasi.
India’s first multi-modal terminal on inland waterways inaugurated in Varanasi
This is the first of the four multi-modal terminals being constructed on the National Waterway-1 (river Ganga) as part of the World Bank-aided Jal Marg Vikas project of the Inland Waterways Authority of India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated India’s first multi-modal terminal on the Ganga river in his parliamentary constituency here and received the country’s first container cargo transported on inland waterways from Kolkata.
The first consignment containing food and beverage had set sail from Kolkata in the last week of October. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and BJP State president Mahendra Nath Pandey, who is also the MP of the neighbouring Chandauli Lok Sabha constituency.
This is the first of the four multi-modal terminals being constructed on the National Waterway-1 (river Ganga) as part of the World Bank-aided Jal Marg Vikas project of the Inland Waterways Authority of India.
The total estimated cost of the project is ₹5,369.18 crore, which will be equally shared between the Government of India and the World Bank.
Earlier, upon his arrival here, the Prime Minister was given a detailed presentation of the waterways and watched a short film on the viability of the waterways between Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Haldia in West Bengal.
According to an official statement, the Centre’s Jal Marg Vikas Project aims at developing the stretch of the river between Varanasi and Haldia for navigation of large vessels weighing up to 1,500 tonnes to 2,000 tonnes.
Its objective is to promote inland waterways as a cheap and environment-friendly means of transportation, especially for cargo movement. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is the project implementing agency.
The project entails construction of three multi-modal terminals (Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia), two inter-modal terminals, five roll-on-roll-off (Ro-Ro) terminal pairs, new navigation lock at Farakka in West Bengal, assured depth dredging, integrated vessel repair and maintenance facility, differential global positioning system (DGPS), river information system (RIS), river training.
India’s first multi-modal terminal on inland waterways inaugurated in Varanasi
This is the first of the four multi-modal terminals being constructed on the National Waterway-1 (river Ganga) as part of the World Bank-aided Jal Marg Vikas project of the Inland Waterways Authority of India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated India’s first multi-modal terminal on the Ganga river in his parliamentary constituency here and received the country’s first container cargo transported on inland waterways from Kolkata.
The first consignment containing food and beverage had set sail from Kolkata in the last week of October. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and BJP State president Mahendra Nath Pandey, who is also the MP of the neighbouring Chandauli Lok Sabha constituency.
This is the first of the four multi-modal terminals being constructed on the National Waterway-1 (river Ganga) as part of the World Bank-aided Jal Marg Vikas project of the Inland Waterways Authority of India.
The total estimated cost of the project is ₹5,369.18 crore, which will be equally shared between the Government of India and the World Bank.
Earlier, upon his arrival here, the Prime Minister was given a detailed presentation of the waterways and watched a short film on the viability of the waterways between Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Haldia in West Bengal.
According to an official statement, the Centre’s Jal Marg Vikas Project aims at developing the stretch of the river between Varanasi and Haldia for navigation of large vessels weighing up to 1,500 tonnes to 2,000 tonnes.
Its objective is to promote inland waterways as a cheap and environment-friendly means of transportation, especially for cargo movement. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is the project implementing agency.
The project entails construction of three multi-modal terminals (Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia), two inter-modal terminals, five roll-on-roll-off (Ro-Ro) terminal pairs, new navigation lock at Farakka in West Bengal, assured depth dredging, integrated vessel repair and maintenance facility, differential global positioning system (DGPS), river information system (RIS), river training.
India’s first multi-modal terminal on inland waterways inaugurated in Varanasi
PepsiCo tests ancient India river route as Narendra Modi pushes waterways
India’s first inland voyage by a container ship since it gained independence from Britain 70 years ago ended when the vessel docked in the holy city of Varanasi on Monday, a development officials hope will help shift cargo from the country’s congested road and rail networks.
The 1,390km (863 miles) Ganga watercourse is one of the 111 waterways spanning 20,276km that India is reviving or planning to build. The World Bank-assisted Ganga waterways project—costing Rs5,370 crore ($738 million)—will enable the commercial navigation of vessels and is set to be completed by 2023.
Transforming country’s waterways could be a game changer for India as it will reduce the cost of transportation—50% less than highways—as well as easing congestion on roads. The move is designed to encourage companies such as NTPC Ltd, India’s biggest power producer, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the nation’s largest carmaker, Fertilizer Corp. of India Ltd and Tata Chemicals Ltd to use waterways to move cargo from cement to cars.
Shifting to water-based cargo transport should have happened at least 15 years ago, said K. Murali, professor at the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts in the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. “Over time it will pick up steam to become more economical and more sought after mode for shifting cargo—there will be certain cargo which will have preference to move in waterways.”
Click here for enlarge
The vessel that sailed from Kolkata on 30 October was carrying food and snacks of PepsiCo Inc. in 16 containers, which is the equivalent of 16 truckloads. The Inland Waterways Authority of India vessel will make its return journey with fertilizers from Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Ltd.
To promote inland waterways, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration has started dredging channels, building terminals and adding barges and has now set about convincing companies to use them. Modi was in Varanasi—which is also his parliamentary constituency—to receive the vessel and inaugurate the new terminal.
Still, India need to overcome challenges including night-time navigation, maintaining consistent water levels and creating more infrastructure, said Murali. India’s first container cargo movement “will provide some momentum to the industry to boost commercial activities, social development and curb carbon footprints, among others”, he said.
Modi’s administration also has plans to integrate coastal and inland waterways. His government has unveiled a $34 billion plan that aims to develop ports along India’s 7,500km coastline.
The movement of container in Ganga watercourse “is a significant milestone in the development of the inland waterways,’ an official from PepsiCo said in an email.
The share of goods transported via India’s inland waterways is less than 1%, compared with 42% in the Netherlands, 8.7% in China and more than 8% in the US.
“Inland water navigation is an underutilized infrastructure in India,” said D. Dhanuraj, chairman, Centre for Public Policy Research, Kochi. While the government is trying to change this situation, the development of inland waterways and port projects has been slow, because “challenges are very high”.
PepsiCo tests ancient India river route as Narendra Modi pushes waterways
India’s first inland voyage by a container ship since it gained independence from Britain 70 years ago ended when the vessel docked in the holy city of Varanasi on Monday, a development officials hope will help shift cargo from the country’s congested road and rail networks.
The 1,390km (863 miles) Ganga watercourse is one of the 111 waterways spanning 20,276km that India is reviving or planning to build. The World Bank-assisted Ganga waterways project—costing Rs5,370 crore ($738 million)—will enable the commercial navigation of vessels and is set to be completed by 2023.
Transforming country’s waterways could be a game changer for India as it will reduce the cost of transportation—50% less than highways—as well as easing congestion on roads. The move is designed to encourage companies such as NTPC Ltd, India’s biggest power producer, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the nation’s largest carmaker, Fertilizer Corp. of India Ltd and Tata Chemicals Ltd to use waterways to move cargo from cement to cars.
Shifting to water-based cargo transport should have happened at least 15 years ago, said K. Murali, professor at the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts in the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. “Over time it will pick up steam to become more economical and more sought after mode for shifting cargo—there will be certain cargo which will have preference to move in waterways.”
Click here for enlarge
The vessel that sailed from Kolkata on 30 October was carrying food and snacks of PepsiCo Inc. in 16 containers, which is the equivalent of 16 truckloads. The Inland Waterways Authority of India vessel will make its return journey with fertilizers from Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Ltd.
To promote inland waterways, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration has started dredging channels, building terminals and adding barges and has now set about convincing companies to use them. Modi was in Varanasi—which is also his parliamentary constituency—to receive the vessel and inaugurate the new terminal.
Still, India need to overcome challenges including night-time navigation, maintaining consistent water levels and creating more infrastructure, said Murali. India’s first container cargo movement “will provide some momentum to the industry to boost commercial activities, social development and curb carbon footprints, among others”, he said.
Modi’s administration also has plans to integrate coastal and inland waterways. His government has unveiled a $34 billion plan that aims to develop ports along India’s 7,500km coastline.
The movement of container in Ganga watercourse “is a significant milestone in the development of the inland waterways,’ an official from PepsiCo said in an email.
The share of goods transported via India’s inland waterways is less than 1%, compared with 42% in the Netherlands, 8.7% in China and more than 8% in the US.
“Inland water navigation is an underutilized infrastructure in India,” said D. Dhanuraj, chairman, Centre for Public Policy Research, Kochi. While the government is trying to change this situation, the development of inland waterways and port projects has been slow, because “challenges are very high”.
PepsiCo tests ancient India river route as Narendra Modi pushes waterways
DP World, Portek in fray to run Varanasi multimodal terminal
Dubai-based DP World, Singapore-based Portek in a joint-venture with India’s ACTL, and two other Indian companies—JM Baxi Group and IL&FS—are competing to operate the Varanasi-based Ramnagar Multimodal Terminal. “There are four firms in fray for the Varanasi-based Ramnagar multimodal terminal. These are DP World, ACTL-Portek, JM Baxi Group and IL&FS,” said a senior government official on condition of anonymity. “The technical evaluation of the bidders is on following which financial bids would be opened”.
He said a final decision would be taken by December. The multimodal terminal (MMT) is the first of three planned on the 1,320-km National Waterway 1 from Haldia in West Bengal to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 12 November. The Ramnagar MMT has a capacity of 1.26 million tonnes per annum of cargo and is built on an area of 34 hectares.
An official from the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the apex body for national waterways development in India, confirmed the names of the bidders and said the authority had invited bids for the operation, management and further development of the MMT as the project was planned to be operated on a public-private partnership model. Selection is being done through an international competitive bidding and is likely to be finalized by next month. The official declined to be named.
The Varanasi MMT is an important project for the central government as Varanasi is Modi’s constituency. It is planned to be used for both passengers and cargo movement along the national waterway. The government plans to develop this stretch between Varanasi and Haldia on the river Ganga for large vessels which can carry 1,500-2,000 tonnes. The terminal is next to a 100-acre freight village which is still under development.
Shipping minister Nitin Gadkari, who revived the idea of national waterways, has said that waterways are cheaper and environment-friendly, reducing logistic costs to 10% from 18%. The development of National Waterway 1 is being implemented by the IWAI under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) with financial and technical support of the World Bank.
DP World, Portek in fray to run Varanasi multimodal terminal
Dubai-based DP World, Singapore-based Portek in a joint-venture with India’s ACTL, and two other Indian companies—JM Baxi Group and IL&FS—are competing to operate the Varanasi-based Ramnagar Multimodal Terminal. “There are four firms in fray for the Varanasi-based Ramnagar multimodal terminal. These are DP World, ACTL-Portek, JM Baxi Group and IL&FS,” said a senior government official on condition of anonymity. “The technical evaluation of the bidders is on following which financial bids would be opened”.
He said a final decision would be taken by December. The multimodal terminal (MMT) is the first of three planned on the 1,320-km National Waterway 1 from Haldia in West Bengal to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 12 November. The Ramnagar MMT has a capacity of 1.26 million tonnes per annum of cargo and is built on an area of 34 hectares.
An official from the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the apex body for national waterways development in India, confirmed the names of the bidders and said the authority had invited bids for the operation, management and further development of the MMT as the project was planned to be operated on a public-private partnership model. Selection is being done through an international competitive bidding and is likely to be finalized by next month. The official declined to be named.
The Varanasi MMT is an important project for the central government as Varanasi is Modi’s constituency. It is planned to be used for both passengers and cargo movement along the national waterway. The government plans to develop this stretch between Varanasi and Haldia on the river Ganga for large vessels which can carry 1,500-2,000 tonnes. The terminal is next to a 100-acre freight village which is still under development.
Shipping minister Nitin Gadkari, who revived the idea of national waterways, has said that waterways are cheaper and environment-friendly, reducing logistic costs to 10% from 18%. The development of National Waterway 1 is being implemented by the IWAI under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) with financial and technical support of the World Bank.
DP World, Portek in fray to run Varanasi multimodal terminal
Need to open up India's dredging market to boost ports trade: NITI Aayog
India needs to open up its dredging market to boost trade by its major ports which at present cannot handle very large vessels in absence of proper draft depth, government think tank Niti Aayog has said.
More competition mainly from global players in dredging activities would help increase and maintain draft depth at ports and attract large vessels, enabling them to become hub ports, the Aayog mentioned.
At present, the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) and a limited set of private vendors serve the Indian dredging market, limiting competition.
"The government needs to open up the dredging market to attract more players, particularly international players, in dredging activities to increase and maintain draft depth at ports to attract large vessels and enable them to become hub ports," Niti Aayog has said.
Foreign players will be attracted to the market if the government takes measures such as consolidating dredging contracts across cohorts of ports and withdrawing, at least temporarily, the right to first refusal given to Indian vendors, it said.
To enable major ports to handle large vessels, the government has already made an action plan to increase the draft depth of ports.
Most major ports have already achieved a draft depth of 14 metres or more except Kolkata Port, where deeper draft has not been feasible because of the riverine nature of the port.
Some major ports are striving to achieve deeper drafts up to 18 metres. The outer harbour in Visakhapatnam has very deep draft of more than 18 metres. Work is in progress to create a draft of more than 18 metres in Mormugao and Kamarajar Port.
The Union Cabinet last month approved strategic sale of government stake in Dredging Corporation of India to consortium of four ports namely Vishakhapatnam Port Trust, Paradeep Port Trust, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Kandla Port Trust.
The government currently holds 73.44 per cent in Dredging Corporation of India Ltd (DCIL).
The approval is aimed at facilitating the linkage of dredging activities with the ports, keeping in view the role of the DCIL in expansion of dredging activity in the country as well as potential diversification of ports into third party dredging.
Need to open up India's dredging market to boost ports trade: NITI Aayog
India needs to open up its dredging market to boost trade by its major ports which at present cannot handle very large vessels in absence of proper draft depth, government think tank Niti Aayog has said.
More competition mainly from global players in dredging activities would help increase and maintain draft depth at ports and attract large vessels, enabling them to become hub ports, the Aayog mentioned.
At present, the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) and a limited set of private vendors serve the Indian dredging market, limiting competition.
"The government needs to open up the dredging market to attract more players, particularly international players, in dredging activities to increase and maintain draft depth at ports to attract large vessels and enable them to become hub ports," Niti Aayog has said.
Foreign players will be attracted to the market if the government takes measures such as consolidating dredging contracts across cohorts of ports and withdrawing, at least temporarily, the right to first refusal given to Indian vendors, it said.
To enable major ports to handle large vessels, the government has already made an action plan to increase the draft depth of ports.
Most major ports have already achieved a draft depth of 14 metres or more except Kolkata Port, where deeper draft has not been feasible because of the riverine nature of the port.
Some major ports are striving to achieve deeper drafts up to 18 metres. The outer harbour in Visakhapatnam has very deep draft of more than 18 metres. Work is in progress to create a draft of more than 18 metres in Mormugao and Kamarajar Port.
The Union Cabinet last month approved strategic sale of government stake in Dredging Corporation of India to consortium of four ports namely Vishakhapatnam Port Trust, Paradeep Port Trust, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Kandla Port Trust.
The government currently holds 73.44 per cent in Dredging Corporation of India Ltd (DCIL).
The approval is aimed at facilitating the linkage of dredging activities with the ports, keeping in view the role of the DCIL in expansion of dredging activity in the country as well as potential diversification of ports into third party dredging.
Need to open up India's dredging market to boost ports trade: NITI Aayog
JNPT becomes India's only port to be ranked among world's top 30
The government Tuesday said the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has become India's only port to get listed among the top 30 global container ports.
"The JNPT, India's premiere container port got listed amongst the top 30 container ports globally, as per the latest LloydsNSE 0.00 % Report. JNPT notched up five spots, to be 28th on the list, compared to its previous ranking," the shipping ministry said in a statement.
This is a validation of all the efforts and strategic initiatives being implemented at JNPT in order to enhance overall port efficiency, it said.
Various new processes activated under the 'ease of doing business' initiative have not only helped in overall growth of the port business, but also allowed the EXIM (Export–Import) trade to save time and cost which in turn have accentuated the growth story, it said.
The JNPT also launched their App service to facilitate better tracking of consignment and ease the trade process for their EXIM partners.
The App will allow traders to access all the relevant information about their consignment and port related updates regarding traffic and weather on their fingertips.
The statement said looking ahead, JNPT is already on a major expansion drive, with some key projects like, on-going work on the mega fourth terminal, developing a centralised parking plaza, improving the port connecting roads and widening of Highways and development of CoastalNSE 0.00 % Berth.
JNPT becomes India's only port to be ranked among world's top 30
The government Tuesday said the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has become India's only port to get listed among the top 30 global container ports.
"The JNPT, India's premiere container port got listed amongst the top 30 container ports globally, as per the latest LloydsNSE 0.00 % Report. JNPT notched up five spots, to be 28th on the list, compared to its previous ranking," the shipping ministry said in a statement.
This is a validation of all the efforts and strategic initiatives being implemented at JNPT in order to enhance overall port efficiency, it said.
Various new processes activated under the 'ease of doing business' initiative have not only helped in overall growth of the port business, but also allowed the EXIM (Export–Import) trade to save time and cost which in turn have accentuated the growth story, it said.
The JNPT also launched their App service to facilitate better tracking of consignment and ease the trade process for their EXIM partners.
The App will allow traders to access all the relevant information about their consignment and port related updates regarding traffic and weather on their fingertips.
The statement said looking ahead, JNPT is already on a major expansion drive, with some key projects like, on-going work on the mega fourth terminal, developing a centralised parking plaza, improving the port connecting roads and widening of Highways and development of CoastalNSE 0.00 % Berth.
JNPT becomes India's only port to be ranked among world's top 30
Cargo movement begins on Kottayam-Kochi inland waterway
A 240-tonne barge operated on the 85-km Kottayam-Kochi inland waterway on Friday, signalling the movement of export-import cargo through National Waterways IX and III.
The vessel, operated by the Kottayam port, took about seven hours to cover the distance between Kottayam and the Vallarpadam container transhipment terminal.
“Being the first trip, the barge proceeded slowly as water hyacinth and other vegetation on the waterway had to be cleared using weed harvester. The vessel will return to Kottayam with four 40-ft containers of newsprint for a language daily,” said Abraham Varghese, Managing Director, Kottayam port.
“On Saturday, the barge will transport an export consignment of food items and rubber mats from Kottayam to Vallarpadam. We hope the route will clear in the coming days, following which the travel time can be reduced. There are plans to transport domestic containers via the corridor, for which bigger barges will be required. Apart from lessening congestion and pollution on roads, the waterway will help save transportation costs by approximately 30%,” he said.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), which owns the two national waterways, arranged pilotage and a weed harvester to clear the way for the vessel. “The two corridors also have provisions for night navigation and vessels can operate round-the-clock. The new barge service passes through 58 km of NW III and 27 km of NW IX,” said Mathew George, Director of the IWAI.
Officials of the Cochin Port Trust, DP World, and Customs were present to receive the barge at Vallarpadam. Friday’s barge service marks recommencement of cargo movement through NW III, after a similar vessel made an inaugural trip from Kochi to Chavara in 2007.
The waterway remained under-utilised as goods transporters had not been showing much interest, though the State government had announced a subsidy of ₹1 per tonne per km.
Many benefits
A regular barge service will benefit importers and exporters by way of reduced haulage for the last and first mile connectivity. The cost of moving cargo through the waterway will be 30 to 40% cheaper compared to road movement, which is in line with the objective of Sagarmala, the flagship programme of Union Ministry of Shipping, a release said.
Cargo movement begins on Kottayam-Kochi inland waterway
A 240-tonne barge operated on the 85-km Kottayam-Kochi inland waterway on Friday, signalling the movement of export-import cargo through National Waterways IX and III.
The vessel, operated by the Kottayam port, took about seven hours to cover the distance between Kottayam and the Vallarpadam container transhipment terminal.
“Being the first trip, the barge proceeded slowly as water hyacinth and other vegetation on the waterway had to be cleared using weed harvester. The vessel will return to Kottayam with four 40-ft containers of newsprint for a language daily,” said Abraham Varghese, Managing Director, Kottayam port.
“On Saturday, the barge will transport an export consignment of food items and rubber mats from Kottayam to Vallarpadam. We hope the route will clear in the coming days, following which the travel time can be reduced. There are plans to transport domestic containers via the corridor, for which bigger barges will be required. Apart from lessening congestion and pollution on roads, the waterway will help save transportation costs by approximately 30%,” he said.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), which owns the two national waterways, arranged pilotage and a weed harvester to clear the way for the vessel. “The two corridors also have provisions for night navigation and vessels can operate round-the-clock. The new barge service passes through 58 km of NW III and 27 km of NW IX,” said Mathew George, Director of the IWAI.
Officials of the Cochin Port Trust, DP World, and Customs were present to receive the barge at Vallarpadam. Friday’s barge service marks recommencement of cargo movement through NW III, after a similar vessel made an inaugural trip from Kochi to Chavara in 2007.
The waterway remained under-utilised as goods transporters had not been showing much interest, though the State government had announced a subsidy of ₹1 per tonne per km.
Many benefits
A regular barge service will benefit importers and exporters by way of reduced haulage for the last and first mile connectivity. The cost of moving cargo through the waterway will be 30 to 40% cheaper compared to road movement, which is in line with the objective of Sagarmala, the flagship programme of Union Ministry of Shipping, a release said.
Cargo movement begins on Kottayam-Kochi inland waterway
Ships built in India to get priority in chartering under revised guidelines of Shipping Ministry
In a big step to promote the Make in India initiative and incentivize ship building activity in the country, the Ministry of Shipping has revised its guidelines for chartering of ships by providing Right of First Refusal ( RoFR) to ships built in India. Henceforth, whenever a tendering process is undertaken to charter a vessel, a bidder offering a ship built in India will be given the first priority to match the L1 quote. It is expected that this priority given to ships built in India will raise the demand for such vessels, providing them with additional market access and business support.
A policy in this regard will be launched by Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in Mumbai tomorrow during the inauguration of the two day Regional Maritime Safety Conference.
Prior to the revision of the guidelines, the RoFR was reserved for Indian flag vessels as per the relevant provisions of Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. The existing licensing conditions have been reviewed in consonance with the Government of India’s policy of promoting the Make in India initiative and the Public Procurement and Make in India orders dated 15.6.2017 and 28.05.2018 issued by DIPP. The review is also in line with the need to give a long term strategic boost to the domestic shipbuilding industry, the need to encourage the domestic shipping industry to support the domestic shipbuilding industry, and the need to develop self- reliance and a strong synergy between these vital industries for the overall long term development and economic growth of the country.
The Ministry of Shipping has also laid down eligibility conditions and rules for exercise of the RoFR. The RoFR would be exercised only in case the vessel being offered for charter by the lowest bidder (L1) has been built outside India. For any bidder to exercise RoFR, his bid should be within the Margin of Purchase Preference, which will be 20% of L1. The two instances under which the RoFR may be exercised are that the L1 bidder is a Foreigner or Company registered outside India, offering a ship not built in India and the L1 bidder is a Citizen of India OR company registered in India OR Society registered in India OR Indian Shipping company/organization with a vessel registered/flagged in India, offering a ship not built in India. From amongst the bidders eligible to exercise RoFR, the priority to exercise this Right would lie in sequence from the lowest to the highest bidder within the margin of purchase preference.
The Government of India has taken several steps to promote shipbuilding in India especially by providing long term subsidy for under the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy (2016-2026). Budgetary provision of Rs. 30 crore was earmarked in 2018-19 for providing financial assistance to all Indian Shipyards, excluding Defence Shipyards. An amount of Rs.11.89crore has already been disbursed to three shipyards.
The Regional Maritime Safety Conference is being organized by India for the first time . The objective of the conference is to deliberate on issues related to assuring maritime safety in the India-ASEAN sub region, safeguarding our shores and promoting trade along the sea routes. The conference will address a wide range of issues that affect regional maritime safety, including transport safety, maritime law, ship building, transportation of hazardous goods, marine oil spill, pollution and environmental safety. The inaugural edition is being organised by the National Maritime Foundation (NMF) in coordination with the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of External Affairs.
Ships built in India to get priority in chartering under revised guidelines of Shipping Ministry
In a big step to promote the Make in India initiative and incentivize ship building activity in the country, the Ministry of Shipping has revised its guidelines for chartering of ships by providing Right of First Refusal ( RoFR) to ships built in India. Henceforth, whenever a tendering process is undertaken to charter a vessel, a bidder offering a ship built in India will be given the first priority to match the L1 quote. It is expected that this priority given to ships built in India will raise the demand for such vessels, providing them with additional market access and business support.
A policy in this regard will be launched by Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in Mumbai tomorrow during the inauguration of the two day Regional Maritime Safety Conference.
Prior to the revision of the guidelines, the RoFR was reserved for Indian flag vessels as per the relevant provisions of Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. The existing licensing conditions have been reviewed in consonance with the Government of India’s policy of promoting the Make in India initiative and the Public Procurement and Make in India orders dated 15.6.2017 and 28.05.2018 issued by DIPP. The review is also in line with the need to give a long term strategic boost to the domestic shipbuilding industry, the need to encourage the domestic shipping industry to support the domestic shipbuilding industry, and the need to develop self- reliance and a strong synergy between these vital industries for the overall long term development and economic growth of the country.
The Ministry of Shipping has also laid down eligibility conditions and rules for exercise of the RoFR. The RoFR would be exercised only in case the vessel being offered for charter by the lowest bidder (L1) has been built outside India. For any bidder to exercise RoFR, his bid should be within the Margin of Purchase Preference, which will be 20% of L1. The two instances under which the RoFR may be exercised are that the L1 bidder is a Foreigner or Company registered outside India, offering a ship not built in India and the L1 bidder is a Citizen of India OR company registered in India OR Society registered in India OR Indian Shipping company/organization with a vessel registered/flagged in India, offering a ship not built in India. From amongst the bidders eligible to exercise RoFR, the priority to exercise this Right would lie in sequence from the lowest to the highest bidder within the margin of purchase preference.
The Government of India has taken several steps to promote shipbuilding in India especially by providing long term subsidy for under the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy (2016-2026). Budgetary provision of Rs. 30 crore was earmarked in 2018-19 for providing financial assistance to all Indian Shipyards, excluding Defence Shipyards. An amount of Rs.11.89crore has already been disbursed to three shipyards.
The Regional Maritime Safety Conference is being organized by India for the first time . The objective of the conference is to deliberate on issues related to assuring maritime safety in the India-ASEAN sub region, safeguarding our shores and promoting trade along the sea routes. The conference will address a wide range of issues that affect regional maritime safety, including transport safety, maritime law, ship building, transportation of hazardous goods, marine oil spill, pollution and environmental safety. The inaugural edition is being organised by the National Maritime Foundation (NMF) in coordination with the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of External Affairs.
Ships built in India to get priority in chartering under revised guidelines of Shipping Ministry
India and Bangladesh are reviving long-neglected trade routes: their rivers
Bangladesh and India are modernizing inland waterways to boost regional trade. Image: REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri/File photo
11 Jun 2019
by Junaid Kamal Ahmad, Senior Director - Water Global Practice, World Bank
Water is essential to life and good health. It’s also vital to create jobs, propel economies forward, and boost social development.
It’s encouraging to see India and Bangladesh are reviving centuries-old inland waterways that once moved goods and people throughout both countries as well as into Bhutan and Nepal . The improvements will promote trade, attract investment, and stimulate development.
More than 600 million people in Bangladesh and India live along the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers. Millions more live near navigable tributaries. Moving goods via water is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than trucks on congested highways .
But much of the cross-border river traffic linking India, Bangladesh, and landlocked Nepal and Bhutan ended after the partition of India and conflicts that followed.
Image: Nature
Reviving the sprawling network of inland waterways and integrating them with coastal shipping is a priority to expand trade. A fully functioning network will allow a ship to pick up freight in Assam and sail south on the Brahmaputra River into Bangladesh .
From there, a ship can continue south to an ocean port in Chittagong or Kolkata or travel west to inland Indian ports on the Ganges River.
Important steps have already been taken to rebuild the role of rivers in regional trade.
Under the 2015 Coastal Shipping Treaty, India and Bangladesh now treat each other’s vessels as their own, allowing direct cargo movement between ports in both countries instead of via a third country.
A separate inland water agreement encourages commerce between the two countries by lifting restrictions on goods moving through each other’s territory. The Government of Nepal also recently opened its own inland vessel registry.
Many sections of rivers need to be dredged and deepened before ships can use them. Just 3 percent of Bangladesh’s containerized cargo traffic is currently transported on inland waterways, and an even smaller percentage in India.
In response, the Government of Bangladesh and the World Bank are working together to improve the navigability of 900 kilometers along the Chittagong-Dhaka-Ashuganj corridor and connecting waterways .
The $400 million project will build and improve cargo terminals in Pangaon and Ashuganj and help Bangladesh’s Inland Water Transport Authority meet international shipping standards.
Passenger terminals at Sadarghat, Narayanganj, Chandpur, and Barisal are being upgraded to provide safer facilities and greater access to transport services, especially for vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly.
In India, a major project is underway to improve the navigability of the Ganges River from the inland city of Varanasi to Haldia, an eastern seaport 1,360 kilometers away.
About 40 percent of India’s traded goods are either destined for or shipped from the fertile Ganges plains surrounding Varanasi.
However, less than one percent of that cargo is now shipped via water. Transportation planners aim to boost that to 10 percent when the waterway improvements are completed. Rail or road shipments take longer, less efficient routes that add costs.
The Ganges improvements are part of a larger, $800 million multi-modal transport network project funded by the Government of India and the World Bank .
Six cargo terminals will link the river with highways and a rail freight line to move goods to markets in India and abroad. Additional funding came from the United Kingdom and Australia through a trust fund promoting South Asia regional trade.
In a historic step forward for India’s waterways, food and beverage giant PepsiCo recently used the Ganges River — also known as National Waterway 1 — to ship containers holding the equivalent of 16 truckloads.
The November trip from Kolkata to Varanasi was the first cargo container shipment on India’s inland waterways since the country’s independence 70 years ago.
The environment may also benefit from fewer greenhouse gas emissions when goods and people are transported by water instead of trucks .
For example, a large container ship weighing about 2,000 tonnes can transport up to 90 containers, the equivalent of 90 truckloads of cargo.
A new car carrier vessel that can carry up to 300 small cars is being tested. Each of its shipments would remove the equivalent of 50 car-carrying trucks from the road.
India and Bangladesh are reviving long-neglected trade routes: their rivers
11 Jun 2019
by Junaid Kamal Ahmad, Senior Director - Water Global Practice, World Bank
Water is essential to life and good health. It’s also vital to create jobs, propel economies forward, and boost social development.
It’s encouraging to see India and Bangladesh are reviving centuries-old inland waterways that once moved goods and people throughout both countries as well as into Bhutan and Nepal . The improvements will promote trade, attract investment, and stimulate development.
More than 600 million people in Bangladesh and India live along the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers. Millions more live near navigable tributaries. Moving goods via water is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than trucks on congested highways .
But much of the cross-border river traffic linking India, Bangladesh, and landlocked Nepal and Bhutan ended after the partition of India and conflicts that followed.
Image: NatureReviving the sprawling network of inland waterways and integrating them with coastal shipping is a priority to expand trade. A fully functioning network will allow a ship to pick up freight in Assam and sail south on the Brahmaputra River into Bangladesh .
From there, a ship can continue south to an ocean port in Chittagong or Kolkata or travel west to inland Indian ports on the Ganges River.
Important steps have already been taken to rebuild the role of rivers in regional trade.
Under the 2015 Coastal Shipping Treaty, India and Bangladesh now treat each other’s vessels as their own, allowing direct cargo movement between ports in both countries instead of via a third country.
A separate inland water agreement encourages commerce between the two countries by lifting restrictions on goods moving through each other’s territory. The Government of Nepal also recently opened its own inland vessel registry.
Many sections of rivers need to be dredged and deepened before ships can use them. Just 3 percent of Bangladesh’s containerized cargo traffic is currently transported on inland waterways, and an even smaller percentage in India.
In response, the Government of Bangladesh and the World Bank are working together to improve the navigability of 900 kilometers along the Chittagong-Dhaka-Ashuganj corridor and connecting waterways .
The $400 million project will build and improve cargo terminals in Pangaon and Ashuganj and help Bangladesh’s Inland Water Transport Authority meet international shipping standards.
Passenger terminals at Sadarghat, Narayanganj, Chandpur, and Barisal are being upgraded to provide safer facilities and greater access to transport services, especially for vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly.
In India, a major project is underway to improve the navigability of the Ganges River from the inland city of Varanasi to Haldia, an eastern seaport 1,360 kilometers away.
About 40 percent of India’s traded goods are either destined for or shipped from the fertile Ganges plains surrounding Varanasi.
However, less than one percent of that cargo is now shipped via water. Transportation planners aim to boost that to 10 percent when the waterway improvements are completed. Rail or road shipments take longer, less efficient routes that add costs.
The Ganges improvements are part of a larger, $800 million multi-modal transport network project funded by the Government of India and the World Bank .
Six cargo terminals will link the river with highways and a rail freight line to move goods to markets in India and abroad. Additional funding came from the United Kingdom and Australia through a trust fund promoting South Asia regional trade.
In a historic step forward for India’s waterways, food and beverage giant PepsiCo recently used the Ganges River — also known as National Waterway 1 — to ship containers holding the equivalent of 16 truckloads.
The November trip from Kolkata to Varanasi was the first cargo container shipment on India’s inland waterways since the country’s independence 70 years ago.
The environment may also benefit from fewer greenhouse gas emissions when goods and people are transported by water instead of trucks .
For example, a large container ship weighing about 2,000 tonnes can transport up to 90 containers, the equivalent of 90 truckloads of cargo.
A new car carrier vessel that can carry up to 300 small cars is being tested. Each of its shipments would remove the equivalent of 50 car-carrying trucks from the road.
India and Bangladesh are reviving long-neglected trade routes: their rivers
Tripura keen to operationalise Indo-Bangla waterway project soon
The proposed waterway project will connect Tripuras Gomati river with Meghna river of Bangladesh to get access to Ashuganj port of the neighbouring country.
PTI, @moneycontrolcom
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb is keen to operationalize the Indo-Bangla waterway project at the earliest as it could be a game changer in the states communicaton system, a senior official said Wednesday.
The proposed waterway project will connect Tripuras Gomati river with Meghna river of Bangladesh to get access to Ashuganj port of the neighbouring country.
Presently ships and steamers ply from Haldia in West Bengal to Dawodkandi in Bangladesh, which is only 80 km from Tripura's Sonamura sub-division in Sepahijala district.
At a meeting with the planning department on Tuesday, the chief minister was briefed about the report of the Joint Technical Committees finding on the 15-km inland waterway project, Transport Secretary L Darlong said. The report suggested dredging work on a 15-km stretch to operationalize the proposed waterway.
"Of the 15 kilometres, around 13 kilometres need to be dredged on the Bangladesh side and the rest on the Indian part to allow small-medium sized vessels," the official said.
The report of the Joint Technical Committee was based on the hydrographic study carried out on March 12 and 13, Darlong said.
The chief minister has asked the transport department to hold a meeting with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to give a big push to the ambitious waterway project, he said. The transport secretary said, he will take up the issue with the IWAI to get the project done "as early as possible".
"Since the state has limited resources, we are of the opinion that the Centre must come forward to incur the expenditure to undertake the dredging," he said.
A technical committee of the Ministry of Shipping had visited Srimantapur area of Sepahijala district just before the Lok Sabha elections, to see the ground reality.
The state government wants construction of a jetty at Srimantapur Land Customs Station (LCS) to handle business through the proposed waterway project.
Tripura keen to operationalise Indo-Bangla waterway project soon
The proposed waterway project will connect Tripuras Gomati river with Meghna river of Bangladesh to get access to Ashuganj port of the neighbouring country.
PTI, @moneycontrolcom
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb is keen to operationalize the Indo-Bangla waterway project at the earliest as it could be a game changer in the states communicaton system, a senior official said Wednesday.
The proposed waterway project will connect Tripuras Gomati river with Meghna river of Bangladesh to get access to Ashuganj port of the neighbouring country.
Presently ships and steamers ply from Haldia in West Bengal to Dawodkandi in Bangladesh, which is only 80 km from Tripura's Sonamura sub-division in Sepahijala district.
At a meeting with the planning department on Tuesday, the chief minister was briefed about the report of the Joint Technical Committees finding on the 15-km inland waterway project, Transport Secretary L Darlong said. The report suggested dredging work on a 15-km stretch to operationalize the proposed waterway.
"Of the 15 kilometres, around 13 kilometres need to be dredged on the Bangladesh side and the rest on the Indian part to allow small-medium sized vessels," the official said.
The report of the Joint Technical Committee was based on the hydrographic study carried out on March 12 and 13, Darlong said.
The chief minister has asked the transport department to hold a meeting with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to give a big push to the ambitious waterway project, he said. The transport secretary said, he will take up the issue with the IWAI to get the project done "as early as possible".
"Since the state has limited resources, we are of the opinion that the Centre must come forward to incur the expenditure to undertake the dredging," he said.
A technical committee of the Ministry of Shipping had visited Srimantapur area of Sepahijala district just before the Lok Sabha elections, to see the ground reality.
The state government wants construction of a jetty at Srimantapur Land Customs Station (LCS) to handle business through the proposed waterway project.
Tripura keen to operationalise Indo-Bangla waterway project soon