IWAI Hands Over Haldia Multi-Modal Terminal Operations to IRC Natural Resources

New Delhi — The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has officially transferred operations of the Haldia Multi-Modal Terminal (MMT) in West Bengal to IRC Natural Resources, aiming to strengthen inland waterway infrastructure and promote multimodal logistics through a public-private partnership (PPP) model, the government announced on Friday.

Built by IWAI with support from the World Bank, the terminal has an annual handling capacity of 3.08 million metric tonnes and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2023. Strategically located and connected to National Highway 41, the terminal is also planned to receive rail connectivity, enhancing its multimodal integration.

Under the PPP Equip, Operate and Transfer (EOT) model, IWAI awarded a 10-year operation and maintenance contract to IRC Natural Resources following an open bidding process. The contract can be extended by an additional five years. IRC Natural Resources secured the project by submitting the highest bid, offering a royalty of Rs 105.03 per metric tonne of cargo handled payable to IWAI.

The operationalisation of Haldia MMT is expected to significantly boost cargo movement via inland waterways, providing a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and faster alternative for transporting goods, particularly to the Northeastern states and Bangladesh.

The move aligns with the government’s Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP), which aims to develop National Waterway-1 (1,390 km) along the Ganga–Bhagirathi–Hooghly river system across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

Under JMVP, IWAI has undertaken several key initiatives, including fairway maintenance, construction of multi-modal and inter-modal terminals, modern navigational locks, and installation of over 60 jetties, benefiting riverine communities and promoting sustainable inland water transport.

With inputs from IANS