HomeBiharPatna, Munger to get help on ferry terminals from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) PatnaBeats Bihar The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has entered into a contract with a joint venture of Thompson Design Group (TDG), Boston (USA), and Infrastructure Architecture Lab of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for identifying suitable locations for constructing 18 ferry terminals in Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Munger, Kolkata and Haldia on national waterways-1 (NW-1). They will prepare detailed project report (DPR) and tender documents for the 18 terminals. The contract was signed on Wednesday. The consultants will identify the best locations within the specific regulatory, planning and investment framework of the cities. “During the course of identifying the suitable locations for the terminals, the consultants will take into account commercial and passenger characteristic of each city with a goal of integrating transportation networks and facilities to each city,” IWAI said in a statement released on Sunday. The centre is developing NW-1 under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) with technical and financial assistance from World Bank at an estimated cost of Rs5369 crore. The project would enable commercial navigation of vessels with capacity of 1500-2,000 tonnes. Phase-I of the project covers the Haldia-Varanasi stretch. It includes development of fairway, multi-modal terminals at Varanasi, Haldia and Sahibganj, strengthening of river navigation system, conservancy works, modern river information system (RIS), digital global positioning system (DGPS), night navigation facilities, modern methods of channel marking, construction of a new state of the art navigational lock at Farakka, etc. The NW-1 is part of the government’s push to tap the possibilities of transportation of cargo through inland waterways to help decongest the clogged road and rail networks. Source: TOI Do you like the article? Or have an interesting story to share? Please write to us at [email protected], or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. Quote of the day:“We accept the love we think we deserve.” ― Stephen Chbosky
