A high-level review meeting chaired by Vijay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), was held in Varanasi to assess the progress of Inland Water Transport (IWT) projects and advance plans to develop the city as a major IWT hub.

During the meeting, Kumar reviewed multiple ongoing IWT initiatives, with senior officials from central and state agencies participating to strengthen coordination and accelerate project implementation. In line with the Ministry’s vision for Varanasi, discussions covered the expansion of cargo handling capacity at the Multi-Modal Terminal (MMT), development of community jetties, progress on the Quick Pontoon Opening Mechanism (QPOM), and proposals for a Freight Village and Multi-Modal Logistics Park. The review also included updates on a ship repair facility, a cruise terminal, the Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE) Varanasi, urban water metro services, and the introduction of electric and hydrogen-powered vessels.

The Secretary emphasised the need for strong inter-agency synergy, noting that effective coordination is critical for infrastructure development, fairway enhancement, improved multimodal connectivity and the overall strengthening of inland water transport in the region. Officials presented updates on project timelines, dredging and fairway maintenance on National Waterway-1, rail and road connectivity to the MMT, and upcoming tender schedules for key infrastructure components.

Kumar commended the efforts of participating agencies and urged continued collaboration to ensure timely and smooth execution of projects. He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to transforming Varanasi into a modern and vibrant hub for cargo movement, passenger services, training, cruise tourism and ship repair, generating significant economic opportunities for eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner S Rajalingam, senior officials from MoPSW and the Inland Waterways Authority of India, and representatives from NTCPWC, IIT Madras, IPRCL, Cochin Shipyard Limited, NHLML, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and the Shipping Corporation of India.