Getting boxes off the roads

The authority wants to conduct more journeys by inland water vessel to increase efficiency and ease the excess strain on the poorly developed transport infrastructure found in some parts of the country.

Therefore with this in mind, the Inland Waterway Authority of India is looking to HHLA consultancy company UNICONSULT alongside HPC Hamburg Port Consulting.

“Compared to other countries, India has previously made little use of the opportunities offered by inland shipping. The Indian government wants to change this, as it has recognised that this mode of transport offers ecological benefits and can alleviate pressure on the road and rail networks,” said Hartmut Beyer, managing director of UNICONSULT.

National Waterway 1 has been identified as being particularly suitable for a pilot project. It is India’s most important waterway and part of the Baghirati-Ganges river system.

Currently, only around 5.5m tonnes of bulk cargo are transported on inland water vessels on the waterway.

Mr Beyer concluded: “Over the past 18 months, we have examined how the waterway system can be improved so that the specific features of inland shipping can be better harnessed. By the end of the year, we want to move prestigious transports to inland water vessel.”