Waterways to Bangladesh via Varanasi would be developed: Nitin Gadkari
(Sourced from PTI)
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said yesterday that waterways to facilitate smooth travel to Bangladesh via Varanasi would be developed in the Saryu river. The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation laid the foundations of several projects worth Rs. 7,195 crore in Faizabad, including the construction of 632 kilometers of national highway in eastern UP.
"I am bringing an airboat from Australia that can land in water. This airboat will operate from Varanasi to Allahabad. We also have plans to operate double-decker buses that can fly," said the minister. Addressing Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who was present on the dais, Gadkari said, "Mauryaji, you also start such air buses in Uttar Pradesh."
"It will solve your problem of traffic jam and these double-decker air buses are much cheaper than Metro," said Gadkari to Maurya. The minister further said river ports are also being developed that will help in smooth movement of goods to Myanmar and Bangladesh. He said that the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) would spend at least Rs. 5,500 crore for the projects.
The Union Minister claimed the department of River Development and Ganga Conservation has cleaned 30% of the Ganga river and announced that by next March, the river will be 100% clean and one can drink water from the river directly.
