Abhijit Chaliha, Guwahati, September 28: Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, in the presence of Parimal Suklabaidya, Minister of Transport, Government of Assam, ceremonially launched a strategic addition to the state's Inland Water Transport fleet on Thursday at Lachit Ghat. CM Dr. Sarma flagged off 10 Catamaran Vessels, 3 Tug Boats, and a Search and Rescue Vessel. Attending the event CM Dr. Sarma emphasized the significance of this expansion. This strategic fleet expansion is a visionary initiative that seeks to harness the vast potential of Assam's abundant river systems. The introduction of these vessels is set to redefine inland water transport in the state, offering numerous benefits in terms of efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability. These modern vessels will not just revitalize the waterways but will open doors to economic growth, job creation, and a greener future - he added. 10 Catamaran Vessels - a Paradigm Shift in Waterway Transport The introduction of the 10 cutting edge Catamaran Vessels worth INR 38. 43 Crores, with carrying capacity of 100 passengers and 50 Motor Bikes with a maximum speed of 10 knots, maintaining safety even in the most challenging river conditions. With exceptional stability, increased passenger and cargo capacity, and environmentally conscious design, the Catamaran Vessels will additionally offer a sustainable and efficient mode of transportation for both commuters and traders. The newly procured vessels from M/s Shoft Shipyard Pvt. Ltd, namely - MV Ugratara, MV Umachal, MV Aswaklanta, MV Jahnavi, MV Sapteshwari, MV Bhagirathi, MV Alakananda, MV Sunbhrangi, MV Triveni and MV Sankari are scheduled to be commissioned in the strategic divisions of Assam IWT i.e. 6 units in Guwahati, 2 in Jorhat and 2 in Dhubri. Out of the 6 units of Catamarans to be commissioned in Guwahati, 2 units are strategically integrated to the upcoming Assam Tourism Cruise Circuit, to be eventually operationalized under the Assam Inland Waterways Company Limited (AIWCL). It is to be mentioned that in 2021, Assam government launched the first set of 10 Catamaran Vessels, which are currently under operations at Guwahati, Jorhat and Dhubri division of IWT. Moreover, to ensure Smooth Navigation in Adverse Conditions IWTD introduced ‘state of the art’ powerful Tug Boats, worth INR 5. 38 crores, which will play a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency and safety of our water transport. This will facilitate efficient berthing and unberthing of vessels, reducing turnaround times and enhancing operational effectiveness. Similarly, with advanced navigation and communication equipment, speed, and manoeuvrability, SAR boats will serve as first responders during distress calls.
They are designed to save lives, provide safety assurance, respond to disasters, and protect the environment. The SAR boat shall be used for Search & Rescue cum surveillance operations on the River Brahmaputra in Assam. Having propulsion, power generation, lifesaving and other engineering and electrical systems to carry out safe and reliable operation, the boat shall be capable of maintaining cruising speed up to wave height 0.5 metre. The vessel shall remain operational with reduced performance in conditions up to wave height 1.25 metre. The vessel can be operated in the high current environment prevalent in river Brahmaputra. The ceremonial launching of the 10 new Catamaran Vessels, 3 Tug Boats, and a Search and Rescue boat testament to the Assam Inland Water Transport Project’s vision for a vibrant and sustainable transportation network across the inland waterways of the state The Government of Assam (GoA) with financial aid from World Bank has taken up the Assam Inland Water Transport (AIWT) project to improve the quality of inland waterways transport - a release added. In the same event the chief minister virtually laid the foundation stone of the Inspection and Certification Centre to be set up at ISBT Betkuchi. This will be the first Inspection and Certification Centre in the state.
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