Waterways get Rs. 2,000-cr infusion

In a recent development, The transport ministry has decided to allot Rs. 2,000 crore from the road funds collected by way of fuel cess, to the Inland Waterways Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said adding that his ministry has sent a proposal seeking allocation of 5% of the Central Road Fund for development of Inland Waterways. Central Road Fund is a non-lapsable fund created under the Central Road Fund Act 2000 out of a cess imposed on petrol and high-speed diesel. The funds are meant to be used to develop and maintain national highways, state roads and railway over and under bridges. The move to seek a pie in the CRF follows government's ambitious plan to tap India's vast network of rivers and canals stretching 14,500 kms for moving goods. The Government has commissioned the Jal Marg Vikas project with the technical and financial support of the World Bank to augment capacity of River Ganga from Varanasi to Haldia. The Rs 4,200 crore project when completed in six years will facilitate movement of up to 2000 ton vessels.