News Desk: To ease the Waterway communication of Assam, the Inland Waterways Authority of India, Ministry of Shipping will provide four new ‘Ro-Pax’ vessels. The Ro-Pax are the new state-of-the-art vessels.
The new Ro-Pax vessels will operate on National Waterway No. 2. This National Waterway stretches from Dhubri to Sadiya.
The Ro-Pax vessel when operational will benefit the inhabitants of the Majuli river island. It will also benefit people of other parts of Assam. Ro-Pax vessels have a low draft and good maneuverability in comparison to ‘Ro-Ro’ vessels. The earlier used Ro-Ro vessels had less maneuverability. Due to its bigger size, Ro-Ro had a high draft, it faced difficulty in plying over the Brahmaputra.
The Cochin Shipyard Ltd has built the new Ro-Pax vessel. It has a capacity of 200 passengers. Along with the passengers, it can also carry 2 trucks and 4 cars.
These Ro-Pax vessels will replace the Ro-Ro vessels. Two Ro-Pax vessels will be placed in Majuli, one in Guwahati. Another one will be placed in Dhubri. The vessels are already en-route from Kolkata to Guwahati via Bangladesh. The vessels have reached Hemnagar in West Bengal on Monday.
Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary is deeply concerned with the plights of the Majuli people. He is also concerned with people of other parts of Assam for the non-functioning of Ro-Ro vessels. The Inland Waterways Authority of India operates the Ro-Ro vessels.
The Transport Minister is in constant touch with the Ministry of Shipping. The Government of India on the State’s request has decided to deliver Assam four Ro-Pax vessels.