RAJYA SABHA
Inland Water Transport
is an economical, fuel efficient and environment-friendly mode
of transport. The three national waterways,namely, the Ganga,
the Brahmaputra and the West Coast Canal when fully developed
with infrastructure facilities namely, fairways, terminals and
navigational aids and when there are efficient inland vessels
operators, can provide effective and efficient inland navigation
for transportation in the country.
These infrastructure
facilities are being provided on the three National Waterways
by Inland Waterways Authority of India and various projects in
this regard have been completed or are under implementation or
are planned. Central Inland Water Transport Corporation is an
organisation under the Government for commercial operation of
inland vessels. An Inland Water Transport policy has been approved
by the Government with a view to facilitating accelerated development
of this mode and to encourage private sector participation for
creation of infrastructure and ownership and operation of Inland
vessels. This Policy includes several fiscal incentives to encourage
participation of private sector in this process.
This was stated by
Shri Su. Thirunavukkarasar, Minister of State for Shipping in
a written reply to a question by Shri Nana Deshmukh in Rajya Sabha
today.
