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Key Points

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced India now has 111 national waterways, up from just 5 during the UPA regime. He credited PM Modi's leadership for this transformation, noting 29 are already operational. The government is focusing on developing Patna as a waterways hub, including vessel repair and river cruise facilities. This expansion aims to boost local economies, benefiting farmers, traders, and students.

Key Points: Modi Govt Expands National Waterways from 5 to 111 Says Sonowal

  • India now has 111 national waterways vs 5 under UPA
  • 29 waterways currently operational
  • Patna to be developed as major waterways hub
  • Task force to plan river cruise and repair facilities
2 min read

India now has 111 national waterways, up from 5 under UPA: Union Minister Sonowal

Union Minister Sonowal highlights India's waterways growth under Modi, with 111 national waterways now operational compared to just 5 under UPA.

"Under PM Modi, we expanded from 5 to 111 national waterways, boosting local economies. – Sarbananda Sonowal"

Patna, June 16

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, said on Monday that the number of national waterways in India has increased to 111 under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, compared to just five during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime.

"Out of the 111 national waterways, 29 are currently operational," Sonowal said while addressing an event organised under the Jal Marg Vikas Project in Bihar's Patna.

He noted that the emergence of national waterways has benefited several states and helped boost the local economy, benefiting farmers, youth and small traders.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi over the past 11 years, we have witnessed a remarkable transformation in the waterways sector. During the UPA regime, the national waterways were limited to just five, and thanks to the right decision-making of the Prime Minister, we expanded this to 111 national waterways, and 29 of them are operational. This development has benefitted every state, especially farmers, youth and small traders, by strengthening local economies," Sonowal said.

Speaking about the ministry's efforts to develop Patna as a major waterways hub, the Union Minister said they were taking immediate action on the Bihar government's appeal.

"We are taking immediate action based on the Bihar government's appeal, particularly for Patna to be developed as a waterways hub, which requires vessel repair and green water transport, including electric ferries and water metro," he said.

He stated that a task force comprising representatives from the Bihar government and the Shipping Ministry would plan the necessary interventions to develop Patna as a waterways hub, which would benefit farmers and students.

Sonowal said it will also help promote river cruises along the 500 km of the Ganga river, which would highlight the culture of Bihar.

"We will form a Task Force comprising representatives from the Ministry of Shipping and the Bihar government to study and plan the necessary interventions, including setting up a vessel repair facility in Patna. This will focus on supporting farmers, students and small traders, promoting river cruises to highlight Bihar's rich history and culture, developing state-of-the-art terminals and infrastructure along the 500 km Ganga river that flows through Bihar," he added.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
This is fantastic progress! Water transport is eco-friendly and can reduce logistics costs significantly. Hope they prioritize safety measures too - we've seen tragic boat accidents in Bihar before. Development with safety should go hand-in-hand 🇮🇳
P
Priya M.
While the expansion is impressive, I wonder how many of these 111 waterways are actually being used effectively? 29 operational out of 111 seems low. Instead of just counting numbers, the government should focus on making existing ones fully functional with proper infrastructure.
A
Amit S.
As someone from Bihar, this is great news! The Ganga is our lifeline. River cruises showcasing our culture + better transport options can boost tourism and local businesses. But please ensure this doesn't lead to more pollution in our holy river. Clean Ganga mission must continue alongside.
S
Sunita R.
Good initiative but implementation is key! We've heard big promises before. Hope the task force includes local experts who understand river ecosystems. Electric ferries sound promising for reducing pollution 😊
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Vikram J.
Water transport can be game-changer for farmers to get better prices by reducing middlemen. But will small boat owners get squeezed out by big operators? Government must protect livelihoods while modernizing the sector.
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Neha P.
The comparison with UPA era seems unnecessary. Infrastructure development should be continuous process beyond politics. That said, if this helps Bihar's growth and creates jobs, I'm all for it! Just hope benefits reach actual people on ground.

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