India is eyeing cargo handling by the private sector to jump to 85% by 2030 from 56% now as it implements the National Monetisation Pipeline, minister for shipping and ports Sarbananda Sonowal told ET. Total cargo handled at ports stood at 1251.38 million tonnes in 2020-21. In an interview to ET, Sonowal, who inaugurated the Community Jetties on NW-1 (River Ganga) in Varanasi, said the government wants the private sector to operate more jetties and terminals and is open to restoring financial support for inland waterways.
PM Gati Shakti lays emphasis on development of inland water- ways. The goals are very feasible if you consider the progress in the last eight years. Up to 2013-14, cargo handling capacity of inland waterways stood at only 16 million tonnes per annum (mtpa). In just eight years, it has risen to 109 mtpa. This massive growth has been possible because the government paid attention and developed infrastructure. Private sector was also taken on board by sensitising them about using the rivers. Cargo handling capacity has significantly increased in coastal shipping, maritime trade, mainline shipping and via inland waterways. Development of competitive infrastructure and bringing down logistics costs is a key focus area for the government.
The shipping ministry’s target under asset monetisation is ₹12,550 crore for 2022-23. Our goal is to ensure that the cargo handling capacity of the private sector grows under the plan. Private sector handles 56% of the total cargo at present. This is expected to increase to 85%. We would also want the private sector to operate more jetties and terminals.
Community Jetties on NW-1 (River Ganga) in Varanasi has been inaugurated last week. But, we’ll have to put in more effort. The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) aims to develop multimodal terminals on the Ganga with assistance of the World Bank. This is followed by the Project Arth Ganga which involves building 60 community jetties from Varanasi to Haldia, covering four states over 1,390 km. These will benefit people on both banks of the river by easing movement of passenger and cargo vessels. These programmes have expedited the cultural and economic growth of people living around the Ganga. The target for completion of JMVP Ganga is December 2023 and we expect to complete it in time.
There has been a demand for restoration of subsidy for moving goods through inland waterways in the North East region.
We are exploring every aspect to strengthen and encourage inland waterways that ultimately benefit people in goods transportation and provide seamless connectivity in that region. We have had very engaging discussions with the representatives of state governments on how to make inland waterways an alternative to roads and railways that will also be cost-effective with seamless accessibility in terms of roads and jetties. We are looking at it holistically.
