During Question Hour Session in Rajya Sabha, Nitin Gadakari, Shipping Minister, said that Maruti Suzuki India will start transporting cars from Varanasi to Kokata on National WaterWay-1. This will be the pilot project which is set to commence from August 12. Gadkari confirmed that an MoU has been signed between Maruti Suzuki and Inland Waterways Authority for transportation of cars through inland waterways.
Gadkari will be present at the inauguration event, where he would flag-off two ships from Varanasi. While one ship will carry Maruti Suzuki cars, the other ship would be carrying construction materials.
In Rajya Sabha, Gadakari said that waterways contributes to just 3.6 percent and Government is trying to take this count to 7 percent by 2018. The GOI aims to export 200 lakh tonnes of cargo on river Ganga by 2020. Talking about fisherman concerns, the minister said that this would have positive impact as it would make sure that fishermen are able to increase their fishing output.
Maruti Suzuki will become India’s first automaker to transport its vehicles to other states using Ganga, National Waterway-1.
