First-ever containerised cargo on Haldia-Guwahati flagged off

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) set sail the first container cargo from Haldia Dock Complex to Pandu in Guwahati via India Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route, in line with the Centre’s focus on improving connectivity to Northeast. Gopal Krishna, Shipping Secretary, Government of India flagged off the vessel, MV Maheshwari, carrying 53 containers of petrochemicals, edible oil and beverage. The 12-15 days voyage will be an integrated IWT movement via National Waterway-1 (river Ganga), NW-97 (Sunderbans), Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route and NW-2 (river Brahmaputra). This is the first ever containerised cargo movement on this Inland Water Transport (IWT) route. The 1425 km long movement is expected to establish the technical and commercial viability of IWT mode using these multiple waterways even as a series of pilot movements are planned on the stretch. The latest IWT movement is aimed at providing a fillip to North East Region’s industrial development by opening up an alternate route for transportation of raw material and finished goods.