Swarupnagar, 4th of January, 2025 : The Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shantanu Thakur laid the foundation stone for Single Lane road bridge here today. The new RCC bridge is designed to ensure safer transit for commuters and facilitating unhindered river navigation,supporting regional development and connectivity goals.
- MoPSW undergoing Developmental Works on National Waterways 44 including Dredging, New Bridges & Improving Connectivity
- IWAI to develop the bridge at Swarupnagar with an Investment of more than ₹16 crores
The new RCC bridge will support the safe passage of passengers and goods with a capacity of up to 2 tons.The new all weather bridge will span 64 meters and include 120 meters of approach roads on both sides, constructed at a cost of almost₹16 crore.As part of efforts to improve connectivity and safety, the existing bamboo bridge at Swarupnagar, which crosses the Ichamati River, is being replaced with this RCC bridge.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency for inland waterways development in the country – under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), is building the Single Lane Bridge with an investment of more than ₹16 crores.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister, Shantanu Thakur, said, “Today is a historic occasion as we lay foundation for the construction of the bridge at Swarup Nagar, a long awaited wish of the people of the region. This will not only ease accessibility but also unlock value proposition for the region. Under the dynamic leadership of Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, our government has been working on multiple projects to improve the navigation with dredging at critical stretches along National Waterways 44; i.e. river Ichamati. We remain firmly committed to the development of infrastructure and empowering the rich waterways network of West Bengal towards attaining the vision of Modi ji of a Viksit Bharat.”
IWAI has initiated significant efforts to enhance navigability on key river stretches on NW 44. As part of this initiative, water hyacinth, weeds, and waste materials—including both plastic and non-plastic debris, as well as natural and artificial dumped materials—have been cleared from Tentulia (Ch 40 km) to Kalanchi (Ch 63.38 km).In the first phase, dredging operations have commenced along the 23.38 km stretch from Tentulia to Kalanchi. The goal is to achieve a navigational depth of 1.5 meters (1.2 meters plus 0.3 meters tolerance), as mandated, and to increase tidal influence in the river.Navigational aids are also being carried out between Bansjhari, Mallikpur to Bashirhat bridge stretch of NW-44.
Shantanu Thakur further added, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, our government has been proactively re-energising waterways so as to enable the efficient, economical and ecologically safe mode of transportation to play a key role in the logistics sector of the country. Since 2014, under Honourable PM Modi ji’s guidance, cargo traffic on national waterways has witnessed an exponential growth from a mere 18 million tonnes in 2014 to reach a whopping 133 million at the end of FY2023-24. The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan is yet another revolutionary initiative, in addition with the Sagarmala programme, to smoothen the logistics sector of the country by modernising and mechanising our infrastructure. Our govt is actively considering construction of bridge at Taranipur at ₹136.20 crores under Sagarmala Project. We are committed to empower waterways as a robust ecosystem capable of nurturing growth, innovation, and ensuring sustainable development.”
To ensure effective monitoring, hydrographic surveys are being conducted fortnightly from Bansjhari, Mallikpur to Kalanchi stretch, with updates, further strengthening efforts to enhance waterway connectivity. These measures underscore IWAI’s commitment to fostering improved inland water transport and sustainable development in the region.
In a bid to ease traffic congestion at the Ghojadanga–Bhomra and Petrapole–Benapole Integrated Check Posts (ICPs), India and Bangladesh have formed a Joint Technical Committee. The committee will conduct a feasibility study on the navigability of the Ichamati River and explore its inclusion as a new route under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWT&T).
The proposed Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR) spans 170.38 kilometers, connecting Hemnagar, Kalanchi, and Khedapara.The initiative underscores the commitment of both nations to enhancing bilateral trade and regional connectivity through sustainable and efficient waterway transport solutions.
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