1. INLAND WATER TRANSPORT IN
NORTH EAST
SHILLONG JUNE 19, 2012

2. INTRODUCTION
River Brahmaputra-NW-2 (891KM) is the major source of IWT in NER
Many rivers join this mighty river to form a fish bone like structure
Barak river in Assam is under consideration for declaration as NW-6 (121 km)
Another 1566 km stretch of tributaries of Brahmaputra & Barak identified in NER for development as State Waterways – Feeder routes
Indo- B’desh Protocol routes (1700 km) provide alternate connectivity avoiding rail/road connectivity through already congested Chicken neck link to NE States
Kaladan multi-modal transport project set to provide alternate route through Myanmar to NER
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3. Back North Bank Subanasiri Burali Bargang Dhansiri Puthimari Pagladiya
Beki
Manas
Aie
Champamati
Gadadhar
South Bank
Noa dihang
Burhi dihang
Disang
Dikhu
Jhanju
Dhansiri
Kopili
Kulsi
Krishnai
Jinary
SADIYA
SAIKHOWA
DIBRUGARH
BOGIBIL
JAMGURI
TEJPUR
SILGHAT
BRAHMAPUTRA R.
JOGIGHOPA
GUWAHATI
PANDU
DHUBRI
BANGLADESH
SHISHUMARA
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Dir/presentation 1/NER-Thai Oct07

4. Proposed National Waterway (No 6)
River Barak
Bhanga
Badarpur
Silchar
Stretch Km
Bhanga - Lakhipur
121
Length –121 km
Development cost -Rs 123 Cr (at prices)
Status: Declaration in process
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5. Protocol route distances
TEJPUR
NAGALAND P
SILGHAT
INDO – BANGLADESH
PROTOCOL ROUTES
31C
I N D I A
Brahmaputra R.
NW-2
A S S A M 36
JOGIGHOPA
DISPUR 37 31
PANDU
DHUBRI P 37
KOHIMA
SHISHUMARA 40
DAIKHAWA
SHILLONG 31 51
M E G H A L A Y A
BIHAR
CHILMARI 53
Barak
MANIPUR
Ganga R.
Surma R.
ZAKIGANJ 34
BAHADURABAD
LAKHIPUR
SYLHET
BHANGA 53
IMPHAL
KARIMGANJ P
JHARKHAND
Jamuna R.
MARKULI
Kusiyara R.
FENCHUGANJ
B A N G L A D E S H
SHERPUR
AJMIRIGANJ
DHULIAN
GODAGARI
SIRAJGANJ
RAJSHAHI P 54
Ganga R.
Baral R.
BHAIRAB BAZAR
ASHUGANJ 44 N
TRIPURA
BAGHABARI
ARICHA
Meghna R.`
AKHAURA
AGARTALA
AGARTALA
AIZWAL
DHAKA
NW-1
Bhagirathi R.
MIZORAM
NARAYANGANJ
Padma R. P
Legend
Legend 2
CHANDPUR
Declared National waterway
Proposed National waterway
Protocol route
Road
Rail NH
KHULNA 35 P
BARISAL
Meghna R.
WEST BENGAL
CHALNA
KAUKHALI
Protocol route distances
KOLKATA P 51 P
MONGLA
Kolkata – Silghat………… Km
Kolkata - Karimganj Km
Silghat- Karimganj………………1410 Km
Dhulian-Rajshahi Km 6 41
HALDIA P
ANGTIHARA
Hooghly R. 5
Back
NAMKHANA
Raimangal R.
Bay of Bengal
Myanmar (Burma)
ORISSA
Sunderbans
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6. Back Myanmar Bay of Bengal I N D I A I N D I A B A N G L A D E S H
Aizwal
I N D I A
I N D I A
B A N G L A D E S H
NH 54
Lawngtlai
Myeikwa (IM Border)
Kaletwa
Myanmar
Paletwa
Bay of Bengal
Kolkata
Sittwe
539 km
Sea
Paletwa
158 km
IWT
Kaletwa
67 km
Road
Myeikwa (IM Border)
62 km
Lawngtlai
100 km
Aizwal
334 km
1260 km
Kyauktaw
Sittwe
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7. mmm
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8. Importance of IWT for NER
A cost effective & environment friendly mode
Best suited for bulk goods, ODC, Project cargo & hazardous goods
IWT offers shorter, alternative route to Lower Assam, Tripura, Mizoram & Manipur
Provides port- hinterland connectivity to entire region – Kolkata – Haldia
River Brahmaputra offers immense scope for development of ‘river cruise’ & ‘eco-tourism’ in NER
Access to Chittagong port by Bangladesh set to change EXIM cargo transport pattern in NER as well as Bhutan
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9. IWT – A COST EFFECTIVE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION
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10. Status of NW-2 …. essential requirements
1. Fairway with targeted depth & width
2. Aids for 24 hrs navigation
3. Terminals with cargo handling equipment and Road- Rail link
4. Vessels
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11. Status of NW- 2 Declaration :Act of Parliament in December 1988
Distance & limits :891 Km from Sadiya to Bangladesh Border
Fairway : Stretch Least available depth (LAD)
B’Border-Neamati (630 Km) 2.5 Metres
Neamati –Dibrugarh (138 Km) 2.0 Metres
Dibrugarh-Sadiya (123 km Metres
Navigational Aids:
Night Navigation Aids are available between B’Border- Silghat (440 Km)
Day Navigation aids on entire waterway from B’Border – Sadiya (891 km)
DGPS station set up at Jogighopa and Dibrugarh and two more being set up at Silghat and Dhubri for safe navigation using electronic charts
Fortnightly talweg survey through 6 survey vessels of IWAI; river notices being issued
Besides, pilots are provided to cargo vessels
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12. Status of NW- 2 Terminals IWT Port Pandu
IWT Port at Pandu has been developed by IWAI as a hub for multimodal connectivity in the North-East region by investing Rs. 100 Cr.
Low level permanent jetty is operational with mechanical handling equipment
Rail connectivity (BG) completed and dry engine run conducted on
Road connectivity already available
High level jetty in progress
Alternate road connectivity with NH-31 for container/heavy traffic is under construction
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13. Status of NW- 2 Terminals
Floating terminals at Dhubri, Jogighopa, Tejpur, Silghat, Neamati, Bogibil (north & south banks), Dibrugarh, Panbari & Orium ghat are being maintained with pontoon and gangway
Floating terminal can be provided at other locations on need basis
Two shore cranes and five floating cranes are availble for loading/unloading of cargo at the terminals
Ro-Ro terminals proposed at Dhubri and Hatsingimari
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14. Status of NW-2 Cargo Vessels
Failure of CIWTC is perhaps the biggest set back for IWT in NER
IWAI has 2 cargo vessels for NW-2 for demonstrative voyages only
IWT Directorate, Assam also has some cargo vessels but now virtually defunct
Private operators consider investment in vessels too risky - lack of assured cargo
Uncertainties surrounding Indo- Bangladesh Trade & Transit Protocol
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15. Cargo movement Year Within NW-2 Transited to NE from Kolkata
Figures in Lakh Ton
Year
Within NW-2
Transited to NE from Kolkata
Export to B’Desh from Kolkata
21.4
0.005
8.89
21.80
0.039
8.80
21.14
0.006
13.38
21.64
0.033
14.92
24.06
0.15
1.47
A major portion of the cargo in NW-2 is being transported through ferry service having a distance up to 100 Km
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16. Transit cargo to NE from Kolkata (Protocol routes)
Revenue earned
Rupees in Lakhs
Year
Within NW-2
Transit cargo to NE from Kolkata (Protocol routes)
Total
0.82
9.04
9.86
0.84
7.33
8.17
2.10
11.73
13.83
1.23
12.27
13.50
3.29
127.00
IWAI is not collecting any waterway charges from the ferry service and most of the cargo in NW-2 is transported through ferry service only.
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17. Important IWT Projects
Declaration of Barak river as National Waterway
Kaladan multi modal transport project
RO-RO terminals at Dhubri and Hatsinghimari (Phulbari) for RO-RO vessel movement
Slipway facilities at Pandu
Construction of terminals at Tezpur, Bishwanath Ghat, Oriyumghat
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18. Important IWT Projects
Study by RITES for development of State waterways
Transportation of FCI foodgrains by IWT Mode to North-East
Transportation of coal by waterway for NTPC power plant at Bongaigaon
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19. Barak river
Declaration of Barak river [Lakhipur- Bhanga stretch (121 km)] as National Waterway is in advanced stage
Cost of development – Rs Cr (2012prices)
Navigational Channel of 40 m width and 1.6 m/2.0 m depth
1 CSD unit, 1 survey launch, & 1 inspection boat are proposed for this NW
IWT terminals at Lakhipur, Silchar and Badarpur
Protocol routes connect Karimganj and Kolkata
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20. Kaladan multi modal transport project
Project funded by MEA – total project cost over Rs crore
Provides alternative connectivity of North- East with mainland India through Kaladan river & Sittwe port in Myanmar
Multi modal project: Road- IWT- Sea
IWAI as PDC did the bid process management
M/s Essar Projects appointed by MEA as main contractor for port & IWT components
Cost of work (IWT & Port): Rs 342 crore
Completion period is 3 years
Construction commenced; likely completion June 2013
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21. RO-RO terminals at Dhubri and Hatsinghimari
Perishable cargo from Meghalaya and consumable goods for West Garo Hills are transported by road using Jogighopa bridge
RO-RO terminals at Duhubri (North Bank) and Hatsingimari (South Bank) on River Brahmaputra will provide direct connectivity between Dhubri and Meghalaya avoiding circuitous road route through Jogighopa
DPR for construction of RO-RO terminal at Dhubri at a cost of Rs 27 Crore (aprox) is in final stage
DPR for Hatsingimari will be completed by June 2012
Acquisition of land at Hatsingimari completed
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22. Slipway facilities at Pandu
A partially built slipway (ship repair facility) of Assam Govt’s exists at Pandu
IWAI proposes to develope this slipway on Joint management basis with IWT- Assam, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers and IWAI.
A concept note for this project has been prepared through IL&FS and forwarded to Govt. of Assam for their views /suggestions.
Ministry of DoNER has been requested to keep a budgetary provision of Rs. 20 Cr for this project under NLCPR- Central during
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23. Construction of other terminals
IWAI is working out the modalities for movement of FCI foodgrains for PDS through IWT to cater the needs of upper Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and adjoining areas
Terminals needs to be developed at Oryumghat, Bogibeel, Matmara, Biswanathghat and Tezpur for unloading foodgrains
Land has been acquired through State Government at identified locations at Biswanathghat and Hatsingimari
Land acquisition at Oryumghat and Tezpur is in process
Ministry of DoNER has been requested to keep a budgetary provision of Rs. 10 Cr for road connectivity of these IWT terminals under NLCPR- Central during
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24. Recent Study by RITES
IWAI has recently conducted a study through RITES (July 2011) for ‘identification of potential waterways of NER’
22 river stretches identified
State Governments may develop these waterways using own resources/CSS /NLCPR-Central
Assam
7 river stretches
405 km
Arunachal Pradesh
4 river stretches
311 km
Mizoram
3 river stretches
370 km
Meghalaya
90km
Tripura
2 river stretches
126 km
Nagaland
1 river stretches
204 km
Manipur
60 km
Total
22 river stretches
1566 km
Details
Map
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25. Issues
Renewal of Indo- Bangladesh Transit & Trade Protocol for longer period of 10 years instead of 1-2 years
Re-introducing Inland Vessel Subsidy Scheme for construction of sufficient vessels by private entrepreneur
Setting up of vessel repair facilities at Pandu
Need to link major river ports like Jogighopa, Tezpur, Silghat, Oriyam ghat, Dibrugarh, Karimganj, Badarpur, Ashuganj with multi-modal rail & road links
Institutional strengthening of IWT setup in all NE States to utilize Central Sector Scheme and NLCPR- Central for IWT
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26. Thank you
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