Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 12 will receive a container vessel in Varanasi on the river Ganga. In the maiden container since Independence on inland vessel MV RN Tagore, food and beverages major PepsiCo (India) flagged off its 16 containers (equivalent to 16 truckloads) in Kolkata last week which is expected to reach Varanasi coming Monday. PM Modi will receive the ever first containerised vessel travelled on inland waterways (NW 1) on November 12 at the newly developed multi-modal terminal and shall dedicate the terminal to the nation.

Shipping Secretary Gopal Krishna along with IWAI’s top officials had flagged off the vessel carrying the consignment in the presence of PepsiCo representatives last week.

Union shipping and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister Gadkari said that “Inland waterways transport in India is set for a revolution and the massive work done on waterways has started showing impact,”. He further added that this is the country’s first container movement on inland vessel post-Independence, and a milestone moment in the history of India’s inland waterways transport sector.

The government is developing NW-1 (river Ganga) under JMVP from Haldia to Varanasi (1,390 km) with the technical and financial assistance of the World Bank at an estimated cost of Rs 5,369 crore. The project would enable commercial navigation of vessels with capacity of 1,500-2,000 DWT.

The vessel will make its return journey with fertilisers belonging to IFFCO that will be procured from its Phulpur plant near Allahabad.