The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) signed today three separate Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with Dredging Corporation of India (DCI), Paradip Port Trust (PPT) and Mormugao Port Trust (MPT).
These MoUs are meant to make use of the synergies, strengths and expertise of the ports and dredging sectors to enable IWAI to accelerate the development of Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector as an alternative, viable and environment friendly mode of transport.
To ensure development of the fairways, the IWAI’s dredging responsibilities are expected to increase rapidly in the next few years.
Under this agreement, DCI will supplement the asset base of IWAI by purchasing/leasing shallow depth dredgers and operating them in the national waterways.
DCI will also prepare cost estimates and determine the duration of the dredging projects .
While the MoU with DCI will enable IWAI to maintain navigable depth in the national waterways, the MoUs with PPT and MPT will help IWAI to develop the national waterway 5 in Odisha and various national waterways in Goa.