PATNA – Building on the success of tourism on the Ganga route, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has embarked on a new frontier by initiating import-export operations of goods between Patna and Kolkata. In a groundbreaking move, the Rabindranath Tagore ship set sail from Patna’s Gaighat port on Saturday, loaded with four containers of Amazon cargo.
LK Rajak, Director of IWAI, highlighted the significance of this milestone, stating that, following an agreement with Amazon, this marks the first instance of goods being transported from Patna to Kolkata. The success of this endeavor has attracted interest from several major companies, signaling a positive shift in the region’s logistics landscape.
A recent meeting with officials from the Bihar Industries Association focused on promoting import-export activities through the Ganga route. Business leaders from Patna City expressed keen interest in leveraging this waterway, which is not only cost-effective but also deemed safer for transporting goods to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Bengal.
The IWAI ships, operating from Gaighat port, are managed by the Shipping Corporation of India. Gopal Krishna, a representative of the company, provided insights into the logistics of the journey, mentioning that the Rabindra Nath Tagore ship is expected to reach Kolkata in six days. The Ganga waterways, developed and organized for seamless ship operations from Banaras to Kolkata, provide a strategic and efficient route for trade activities.
The successful movement of tourist ships on the Ganga route has laid a strong foundation for expanding the scope of waterway transport, fostering economic growth, and establishing a more efficient mode of goods transportation between key cities along the Ganga basin. The IWAI’s strategic collaborations and advancements contribute to the realization of the immense potential of inland waterways in India.
