Waterways are more efficient than roads: Gadkari -Governance Now

Waterways are more efficient than roads: Gadkari

Government’s first priority is waterways, second railways and then comes road

Surbhi Shukla | June 8, 2016

#freight #roads #waterways #Nitin Gadkari #transportation

Waterways needs to be promoted more than roadways which will eventually result in nation’s development by reducing the cost of transportation, said Nitin Gadkari, minister for road transport and highways and shipping at the launch of a report on freight transportation.

“Government’s first priority is waterways, second railways and then comes road,” said the minister on June 7. The minister added that currently six percent goods are transported through waterways and his target is to ensure at least 15 percent of goods are transported through waterways over the next five years.

He also urged logistics firms to buy ships instead of trucks and told them about different schemes like tax exemption, infrastructure status given to shipbuilding. The ministry is also looking for approval from finance ministry to provide subsidy after 7 years.

India has 12 major ports, 200 private ports and 3 organisations, including Shipping Corporation of India and Cochin Shipyard. “We are working on developing two waterways to export iron ore from Goa for which tenders have already been received and also the ministry is planning 8 new ports in which work for 3 ports is scheduled to begin by this year,” he said.

He emphasized on the importance of innovative development approach to reduce logistics cost which will increase export and create employment which would eventually contribute to increase in GDP and per capita Income. He also stressed on creating more business opportunities through transport and making it an additional source of income.

Comments

Other News

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.

Cabinet approves viability gap funding to develop grid-scale energy storage systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development o

Cabinet creates a pathway to absorb Agniveers in Defence Forces

An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered reg