Kolkata: Marking a new chapter, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) will transport container cargo belonging to food and beverage giant PepsiCo (India) from Kolkata to Varanasi on river Ganga (National Waterway-1). The country’s first container movement on inland vessel post Independence is scheduled on Tuesday October 30. Secretary (Shipping) of the union government Gopal Krishna along with Chairman, IWAI, Pravir Pandey, and other senior government officials will flag off the vessel carrying the consignment in presence of PepsiCo representatives from Kolkata.
According to an IWAI official, PepsiCo will move 16 containers — equivalent to 16 truckloads — filled with food and snacks in the vessel MV RN Tagore which will reach Varanasi in 9-10 days. The vessel will make its return journey with fertilisers belonging to IFFCO that will be procured from its Phulpur plant near Allahabad. Container cargo transport reduces the handling cost, allows easier modal shift, reduces pilferages and damage and enables cargo owners to reduce their carbon footprints.
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