Why in News?

• The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation India’s second riverine Multi-Modal terminal built at Sahibganj in Jharkhand
• This is the second of the three Multi-Modal Terminals being constructed on river Ganga under Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP).

Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP):

• Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) for capacity augmentation of navigation on National Waterway-1 (NW-1) is being implemented with the technical assistance and investment support of the World Bank.
• One of the major problems for commercially viable and safe navigation on NW-1 is low depth upstream of Farakka due to low discharges from tributaries and difficult hydro morphological characteristics of river Ganga.
• A pilot study on the Allahabad-Ghazipur stretch was commissioned by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to find solutions to this problem.
•  Based on the findings of this study, a proposal for development of NW-1 was taken up for seeking technical assistance and investment support from the World Bank
• Finance Minister announced JMVP in Budget Speech in July 2014, to enable commercial navigation of at least 1500 tonnes vessels in Ganga.
• States that come under this project are: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal

Significance of the Project:

• The alternative mode of transport will be Environment-Friendly and Cost-Effective. The project will contribute to bringing down the logistics cost in the Country.
• Mammoth Infrastructure development like multi-modal and inter-modal terminals, rollon –Roll off (Ro-Ro) facilities, ferry services, navigation aids.
• Socio-economic impetus; huge Employment Generation