Plan to introduce amphibious plane on Ganga: Gadkari

Lucknow, February 9

The Centre is working on a proposal to ply an amphibious aircraft on the Ganga between Varanasi and Kolkata and has a target of developing 111 waterways in the country.

"My target is to develop waterways in rivers. Parliament has given the consent to such five inland waterways in which Ganga and Brahmaputra are included. The target is to develop 111 such waterways.

"There will be trade up to Bangladesh and Myanmar through waterways. An amphibious aircraft will be operated between Varanasi and Kolkata. It will be a cheaper mode of transport," Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said yesterday at a public meeting here.

"620 km-long Farrakha to Patna inland waterway will be completed 6 months," he said.

Electric bikes, buses and cars will also be introduced in two years to boost environment protection, he said.

"These vehicles will be operated with lithium-ion battery that is used in satellites and rockets. Such an electric bus has been given to Parliament," he said.

The Surface Transport and Shipping Minister said the Narendra Modi government will in five years fulfil the dream of ensuring a clean and pure Ganga.

The minister said there was a target to start transportation from Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka through underground sea tunnel.

He said 5,000 institutes would be set up in the country having facility from driving licence, fitness to pollution certificate and would provide employment to one lakh people. —PTI