PEPSICO to move 16 containers from Kolkata to Varanasi, India’s first container movement on inland waterways post Independence

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NewDelhi : Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) will transport container cargo belonging to the food and beverage giant PepsiCo India from Kolkata to Varanasi on river Ganga (National Waterway-1) tomorrow. Secretary (Shipping), Govt. of India, Gopal Krishna along with Chairman, IWAI,  Pravir Pandey and other senior Government officials will flag off the vessel carrying the consignment in the presence of PepsiCo representatives.

This would be the country’s first container movement on inland vessel post-independence, and a milestone moment in the history of India’s IWT sector. PepsiCo (India) will move 16 containers – equivalent to 16 truckloads- filled with food and snacks in the vessel MV RN Tagore which will reach Varanasi in 9-10 days. MV RN Tagore will make its return journey with fertilizers belonging to IFFCO that will be procured from its Phulpur plant near Allahabad.

Container cargo transport comes with several inherent advantages. Even as it reduces the handling cost, allows easier modal shift, reduces pilferages and damage, it also enables cargo owners to reduce their carbon footprints. The government is developing NW-1 (River Ganga) under JMVP from Haldia to Varanasi (1390 Km) with the technical and financial assistance of the World Bank at an estimated cost of Rs 5369 crore. The project would enable commercial navigation of vessels with capacity of 1500-2,000 DWT.

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