Chapter on Transport

SETHUSAMUDRAM SHIP CHANNEL PROJECT

  • The Government of India through Ministry of Shipping has set up a “Special Purpose Vehicle” (SPV) in the name of “Sethusamudram Corporation Limited” (SCL) to raise finance and to undertake such other activities as may be necessay to facilitate creation and operation of a navigable channel from Gulf of Mannar to Bay of Bengal through Palk Bay (Sethusamudram Ship Channel).

COCHIN SHIPYARD LIMITED, KOCHI

  • Situated in the south western coast of India in Kochi, Kerala, Cochin Shipyard is the largest shipyard in the country.
  • Incorporated in the year 1972, Cochin Shipyard can build ships upto 1,10,000 DWT and repair ships upto 1,25,000 DWT.
  • The yard has built varied types of ships including tankers, bulk carriers, port crafts, offshore vessels, tugs and passenger vessels.
  • Considering its achievement the Government granted it Miniratna status in 2008.

HOOGHLY DOCK AND PORT ENGINEERS LTD

  • HDPEL, Kolkata became a Central Public Sector undertaking in 1984.
  • The yard is capable of constructing various types of ships (including passenger ships) and other vessels such as dredgers, tugs, floating dry docks, fishing trawlers, supply-cum-support vessels, multipurpose harbour, vessels etc.

INLAND WATER TRANSPORT

  • India has one of the longest navigable and inland water networks.
  • There is over 14000 kms length of navigable river.
  • But cargo transport through these inland waterways is, presently less than 1% of the total cargo payment in the country.
  • Inland waterways Authority of India (IWAI) was set up in 1986 for regulation of shipping and navigation.
  • IWAI is primarily responsible for development, maintenance and regulation of national waterways.

FIVE WATERWAYS HAVE BEEN DECLARED AS NATIONAL WATERWAYS:

  1. Allahabad — Haldia stretch (1620 km) of the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system (NW—I) in 1986.
  2. Sadiya – Dhubri stretch (891 km) of Brahmaputra river (NW—2) in 1988.
  3. Kottapuram — Kollam stretch of West Coast Canal alongwith Chempakara Canal and Udyogmandal Canal (205 km) NW-3 in 1993.
  4. Kakinada – Puducherry stretch of Canal and Kalurelly Tank, stretches of river Godavari and Krishna (1995 km).
  5. Takher Dhamra Stretch of river Brahmani, Geonkhali Charbatia stretch of East Coast Canal, Charbat-ia-Dhamra stretch of Matai river alongwith Mahanadi delta river system (623 km.)

CENTRAL INLAND WATER TRANSPORT CORPORATION LTD

  • CIWTC was incorporated on 22nd February, 1967 by taking over all the assets of the erstwhile River Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.
  • The principal activity of the Corporation is the transportation cargo by barges through Inland Waterways in the country and through the routes identified in the Protocol on Inland Water Transport between India and Bangladesh.
  • Both the Registered office and Corporate office of CIWTC are located in Kolkata.
  • The existing fleet strength of the CIWTC is about 101 vessels.
UPSC Prelims 2025 Notes