KOLKATA : A major milestone has been achieved in India’s Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector with the successful movement of 1,668 metric tonnes of Over Dimensional Cargo (ODC) from Diamond Harbour, Kolkata to Simaria Ghat in Bihar through National Waterway-1 (NW-1). The cargo is destined for the Barauni Refinery, demonstrating the increasing capability of India’s inland waterways to handle heavy and project cargo efficiently.
The successful transportation underscores the growing importance of the Ganga waterway as a reliable, sustainable and cost-effective logistics corridor for industrial cargo. The movement also reflects the strengthening of inland waterway infrastructure under the Government of India’s efforts to promote multimodal transportation and reduce dependence on road transport for oversized and heavy consignments.
The seamless movement of the ODC cargo is expected to significantly reduce logistics costs, lower carbon emissions, and improve transit efficiency compared to conventional transport modes. It also highlights the operational readiness of National Waterway-1 to support large-scale industrial projects and heavy engineering cargo.
With cargo movement on the Ganga gathering momentum, enhanced Inland Water Transport infrastructure is playing a crucial role in improving multimodal connectivity, facilitating ease of doing business, and unlocking new economic opportunities across the hinterland. The development aligns with the Government’s vision of promoting greener logistics, strengthening supply chains, and accelerating industrial growth through an integrated transport network.
The milestone further reinforces the strategic importance of inland waterways in India’s logistics ecosystem and marks another step towards building a more efficient, resilient, and environmentally sustainable freight transportation network.
