Jaipur, Nov 18 (PTI) An inland port will be developed in Rajasthan's Jalore district that will link the state directly with the Arabian Sea via Kandla Port in Gujarat, Rajas
than Water Resources Minister
Suresh Rawat said on Tuesday.
The project, which will be developed by the Centre with support of the Rajasthan government, is expected to boost trade, industrial development, and logistics connectivity in the state.
The inland port will be developed along a 262-kilometre waterway, connecting Jalore with the Gulf of Kutch. The initiative involves dredging costs of over Rs 10,000 crore and aims to facilitate cargo movement while reducing pressure on roads and railways.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has submitted the draft of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the inland port.
The report is being studied by Rajasthan government officials.
Following field visits, the state will provide comments on the draft, after which a final DPR will be prepared. Based on the final report, the project will move forward.
Rajasthan is expected to provide about 14 km of land for the development of the port.
"The inland port will open new avenues for industries in Jalore, Barmer, and surrounding regions, including textiles, stone, agricultural products, oilseeds, guar, pulses, and millet," Rawat said.
He said the ongoing HPCL-Rajasthan oil refinery projects in Pachpadra (Balotra) will also benefit from faster and cost-effective transport.
The inland port will link the Jawai-Luni-Run of Kutch river system, which has already been declared National Waterway-48 by the Government of India.
An official said after the project is completed, the port will be operated by the state government.
The connectivity is expected to encourage the establishment of new industries, warehouses, cold storage facilities and industrial clusters in the state.
A pre-feasibility report indicates that the project could generate over 50,000 employment opportunities in Rajasthan, Gujarat and nearby areas.
Direct maritime connectivity is expected to attract investors and further industrial development.
An MoU was signed in Mumbai between the Rajasthan River Basin and Water Resources Planning Authority and the Inland Waterways Authority of India last month. PTI SDA TRB
TRB
