MV Trishul Completes Maiden Voyage, Transports 1,500 Tonnes of Cement on Indo-Bangladesh Route
On 6th January, MV Trishul completed its maiden voyage, marking a significant achievement for India’s inland waterways. The vessel, accompanied by two dumb barges, Ajay and Dikshu, successfully transported 1,500 tonnes of cement from Kolkata to Guwahati’s Pandu, utilizing the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR). This milestone is part of the government’s push to promote sustainable, economical, and efficient logistics solutions under the Jalvahak cargo policy.
The Jalvahak scheme is designed to incentivize the movement of long-haul cargo via National Waterways 1 (River Ganga), National Waterways 2 (River Brahmaputra), and National Waterways 16 (River Barak). The initiative aims to reduce congestion on roads and railways, offering a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective mode of transport. The fixed-day scheduled sailing service operates between Kolkata, Patna, Varanasi, and Pandu, ensuring reliable and timely cargo deliveries. This journey from Kolkata to Pandu represents a major development in India’s inland waterway infrastructure, offering businesses a dependable and sustainable alternative for transporting goods.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, hailed the completion of MV Trishul’s maiden voyage as a key milestone for India’s inland waterways. He emphasized that this achievement highlights the vast potential of waterways as a sustainable and efficient transportation mode, helping reduce congestion on traditional transport routes. “The government is committed to transforming logistics with sustainable solutions. The Jalvahak scheme offers a cost-effective, reliable, and eco-friendly transportation option,” said Sonowal. The scheme’s focus on long-haul cargo movement aligns with the government’s broader vision of fostering an efficient and developed logistics network.
The joint effort of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Inland and Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL) — a subsidiary of the Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCIL) — has been crucial in bringing this vision to life. With the launch of regular scheduled freight services, businesses are now encouraged to use national waterways for timely and sustainable cargo delivery. This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming India’s logistics sector and contributing to the country’s development as a global economic power.
