The inland waterways transport infrastructure in West Bengal will get a boost with the Transport Department executing the Inland Waterways Transport Logistics and Spatial Development Project. The World Bank recently signed an agreement with the Central Government and the state government to provide a loan of $105 mn for the project, which is aimed at facilitating both passenger and freight movement in five densely populated districts of south Bengal that covers the Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA) where one third of the state population resides. KMA covers four municipal corporations and 37 municipalities, parts of North 24-Parganas, South 24-Parganas, Howrah, Nadia and Hooghly within its jurisdiction.