The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), functioning under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has established a new office in Srinagar as part of efforts to boost inland water transport infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir. The office, located at Transport Bhawan in Srinagar, has been provided by the Jammu and Kashmir government and became operational on Tuesday.
The Srinagar office will serve as the central hub for IWAI’s activities in the Union Territory, overseeing the development of river navigation infrastructure across the region. To this end, the Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Jammu and Kashmir administration to undertake projects across three declared national waterways—NW-26 (River Chenab), NW-49 (River Jhelum), and NW-84 (River Ravi).
Development works planned under the agreement include the installation of floating jetties at ten locations across the Union Territory, dredging of riverbeds to create navigable fairways, provision of night navigation aids, and the conduct of regular hydrographic surveys to ensure safe vessel movement.
The initiative is part of a broader national strategy to tap into the potential of inland waterways as a sustainable mode of transport and economic driver. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, IWAI has been implementing various projects to enhance inland navigation across India.
Officials said that the collaboration between IWAI and the Jammu and Kashmir administration is expected to open up new avenues for eco-tourism and economic development in the region by improving connectivity and reducing logistical costs.
from National https://ift.tt/zDN7hV4