Patna: The Bihar government is set to promote inland waterways as a key driver for industrial development, aiming to make the transport of goods up to 50 per cent cheaper compared to road routes. Officials said the move will also allow nearly four times more raw material to be transported at once, offering major cost and logistics benefits to industry founders, including savings on toll tax and fuel.
A dedicated roadmap is being prepared to strengthen water-based transport in the state. Under the plan, goods from Bihar will move via West Bengal and Maharashtra to international markets. Transporting sand, vegetables and heavy cargo through waterways will become easier and more economical.
At present, two Ro-Pax vessels are operating in Bihar—one in Patna and another in Bhagalpur. The state also has 21 community jetties, and 17 more are planned at new locations. Markets (haats) will be set up near these jetties so that fresh fruits and vegetables can be sold directly. New inter-state terminals will also be developed to facilitate large-scale cargo movement through rivers.
Subsidy Push Under Jalwahak Scheme
Under the Jalvahak (cargo transport) scheme, the state has proposed reducing the minimum distance for subsidy eligibility on National Waterway-1 from 300 km to 100 km. This will help shipping operators access central government incentives and boost water transport between cities such as Buxar, Kalughat, Patna-Hajipur, Mokama, Bhagalpur and Sahibganj.
In the first phase, Bihar is expected to receive around a dozen cargo vessels from the Centre. A meeting between the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Bihar government is scheduled later this month to finalise the decisions.
Local Expertise Key for Safe Navigation
Ganga river expert and local diver Rajendra Sahni said that before operating cargo ships, at least 50 experienced fishermen who understand the river’s depth and currents should be deployed. “If ships start from Farakka towards Bihar without proper local guidance, there is a risk of vessels getting stuck,” he warned.
Water Transport Much Cheaper Than Road
The average cost of inland waterway transport is estimated at around ₹1 to ₹1.50 per tonne per kilometre. In contrast, road transport by truck costs about ₹2.50 to ₹4 per tonne per kilometre.
For example, transporting 100 tonnes of goods over a distance of 500 km by water would cost about ₹50,000 to ₹75,000. The same consignment by road would cost between ₹1.25 lakh and ₹2 lakh. Officials said this cost advantage could significantly improve Bihar’s industrial competitiveness and attract new investments.
