VARANASI: The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has started a month-long programme from Varanasi to discuss the benefits of multi-modal terminal project being implemented under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP). The effort is part of an IWAI dialogue series being held with stakeholders and local communities along the National Waterway 1 (River Ganga).Under JMVP, a multi-model terminal is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 169.59 crore in Ramnagar area of Varanasi. Besides, two more such terminals are also being constructed at Sahibganj (Jharkhand) and Haldia (West Bengal) at a cost of Rs. 280.90 crore and Rs. 517.36 respectively. The first community outreach programme was held at Ramnagar on July 16.According to Deevakar Anand of IWAI, about 80 people from diverse backgrounds like NGOs, Nishad community, fishermen, farmers, transporters and people from adjoining village attended the programme. Similar programme will be held at Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Sahibganj, Farakka, Swaroopganj, Behrampore, Haldia and other hinterlands of UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal along NW-1.Anand said the Rs 5369.18 crore JMVP is going to create more than 1.5 lakh direct and indirect employment in the four states it traverses, and the dialogue process has been initiated to bring the beneficiaries to the fold of inclusive development. Even while JMVP will facilitate seamless movement of large freight from Varanasi to Haldia, IWAI has also assessed the need to make smaller interventions for the benefit local communities and farmers along the bank of Ganga. Ferry services, small jetties and vessels are being worked out to facilitate the movement of smaller cargo like agricultural produces like banana, marigold flowers, paan leaves and vegetables.The IWAI is also working with State Livelihood Missions for imparting necessary skill training for the youth, boatmen and other community members so that they could benefit from the employment opportunities.According to the records of the ministry of shipping, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi , in January approved implementation of JMVP for capacity augmentation of navigation on National Waterway-1 (NW-1) at a cost of Rs 5369.18 crore with the technical assistance and investment support of the World Bank.The project is expected to be completed by March, 2023.The NW-1 development and operations will lead to direct employment generation to the tune of 46,000 and indirect employment of 84,000 will be generated by vessel construction industry. The project is being executed in UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, covering major districts like Varanasi, Ghazipur, Ballia, Buxar, Chhapra , Vaishali, Patna, Begusarai , Khagaria, Munger, Bhagalpur, Sahibganj, Musrhidabad, Pakur, Hoogly and Kolkata.According to a ministry report, contract was awarded to a joint venture of Thompson Design Group (TDG) of Boston (US) and Infrastructure Architecture Lab of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in December 2016 for identifying suitable locations for construction of ferry terminals in Varanasi, Patna, Bhagalpur, Munger, Kolkata and Haldia.

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