Second MultiModal Terminal Dedicated to Nation

Multimodal transport is the transport of goods with different modes of transport under a single contract. Even though it uses multimodality transport to perform it, the entire carriage is liable. As the seventh-largest country globally, India has developed and grown in various fields. The Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s second multimodal terminal at Sahibganj. This multimodal transport is the second of the three multimodality transportation (MMT) constructed on the river Ganga under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP). The multimodal project was considered India’s second riverine Multimodal terminal built at Sahibganj in Jharkhand on 12 September 2019.

The Inauguration of the Second MultiModal Terminal 

On 12 September 2019, the honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, inaugurated the second multimodal terminal at Sahibganj in Jharkhand. The multimodal project is India’s second riverine multimodal transport built in India. 

The second multimodal terminal was constructed under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) on National Waterway-I, aided by the World Bank. It is the first multimodal terminal built at Varanasi. 

The multimodal terminal was built at 290 crores in about two years. The honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone at Sahibganj in April 2017.

The terminal per annum is 30 lakh tonnes. It will increase to 54.8 lakh tonnes behind an investment of 376 crores for total enhancement in Phase II. The private organisation will make the development in Phase II. Further, a cargo town is proposed on 335 acres of land with a multimodal terminal.

Benefits of Multimodal terminal at Sahibganj

The Multimodal terminal at Sahibganj will unlock industrial opportunities in Bihar and Jharkhand to the global market. It furnishes Indo-Nepal cargo relationship via waterways route.

Multimodality plays a vital role in transporting domestic coal from the local coal mines in the Rajmahal region to diverse thermal power plants located with National Waterways -I. This multimodal transport can transport coal, fertilisers, cement, stone chips, and sugar.

The multimodal terminal helps create indirect employment for about 3000 people and direct work for about 600 people in the region.

The confluence of Road-Rail-River multimodal transport at Sahibganj via the new multimodal terminal connects the ports of Haldia, Kolkata, and Bay of Bengal. Also, it combines the North-Eastern states via Bangladesh by the river route.

Multimodality types of transport

Intermodal shipping

The basics of Intermodal shipping is the shipment handled by different shipping companies. Intermodal is the movement of cargo from its origin to destination by various modes of transport. These modes have additional transportation with their contract and multiple carriers. 

Benefits of Intermodal transportation 

• The shippers can choose their carriers with lower rates for separate transport legs.

• It provides the flexibility and specialisation handling of unloading and loading goods at different ports.

• They reduce carbon footprint and are eco-friendly.

• Increase the security of the products.

Multimodal Shipping

Multimodal transport is the movement of cargo from its origin to destination employing various modes of transport with different carriers under a single contract. The same carrier is responsible for moving all the legs.

Benefits of Multimodal transportation

• Tracks the efficiency to monitor from door to step delivery.

• Accessible to even remote regions of the world, handled with care.

• It minimises the logistics coordination expenses.

Jal Marg Vikas Project

The project was implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), aided by the World Bank. The World Bank and the Government of India equally shared the project’s total cost of around five crores. 

The goal is to enable inland waterways as a more affordable and environmentally friendly means of transport, particularly for cargo movement.

It has three multimodal terminals at Haldia, Varanasi, and Sahibganj and two intermodal terminals. They assure the depth, integrated repair, facility, Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS), River Information System (RIS), river training, and conservancy works. 

The further growth of the multimodal terminal is proposed to consign to an operator on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, as the selection occurs via competitive bidding.

Conclusion

Multimodal transport is the transport of goods with different modes of transport under a single contract. Multimodal terminals play a vital role in the growth and economy of the country. Through multimodality, the nation’s economy, as well as international relations, will be enhanced.

This multimodal transport is the second of the three multimodality transportation constructed on the river Ganga under the Jal Marg Vikas Project. The Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s second multimodal terminal at Sahibganj. They reduce carbon footprint and are eco-friendly. The multimodal project is India’s second riverine multimodal transport built in India.