MoPSW Secretary flags off MV Homi Bhabha to boost IWT

VARANASI : Secretary, MoPSW, Shri T K Ramachandran flagged off MV Homi Bhabha carrying 300 tonnes of cargo from MMT Varanasi. Divisional commissioner S. Rajalingam, Varanasi district magistrate Satyendra Kumar, Chandauli district magistrate Chandra Mohan Garg, and other senior officials. Director of the Multi-Modal Terminal Sanjeev Kumar and deputy director R.C. Pandey were also present. He also reviewed the progress of MMLP project.

In a major push to inland waterway connectivity, a cargo vessel carrying cement and putty from Katni, Madhya Pradesh, was flagged off from Varanasi to Sahibganj terminal under the National Waterway-I project. The consignment, loaded with the help of a German crane, will be transported onward to Siliguri, Malda Town, and Krishnanagar in West Bengal by road.

Officials of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) said the initiative marks a significant milestone in strengthening the water transport system, with far-reaching benefits for trade and entrepreneurs in the region.

Since 2014, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, work on the Varanasi-Haldia National Waterway-I has gained momentum. In November 2018, the Prime Minister inaugurated IWAI’s multi-modal terminal at Ramnagar by flagging off the first cargo vessel, a move aimed at reducing logistics costs and enhancing industrial competitiveness.

The latest consignment underscores the government’s commitment to promoting eco-friendly transport, reducing road congestion, and empowering local industries while contributing to regional economic development.