Hyderabad: The waterways project in Telangana is all set to be put on the fast track. The project will connect seven rivers in state. The seven rivers are Manjira, Bhima, Penganga, Tungabhadra, Wainganga, Krishna and Godavari. Water ports will be developed on these rivers. The state government has informed the Assembly on Friday that approvals have been given by the Centre to set up water ports on these seven rivers. This will reduce transportation costs as waterway transport is just one-fifth of the road transportation cost.
Roads and buildings minister Tummala Nageshwar Rao said, "All the new reservoirs, barrages, bridges etc being constructed by the state government have been designed to suit the needs of the waterways project. Cable bridges are also planned for this purpose.” Mr Rao said that the Centre has accorded permission to take up waterways project from Bhadrachalam to the Pranahitha river on Maharashtra border.
“The project will pass through Bhadrachalam, Eturunagaram, Pranahitha. Godavari river will be used as waterway,” the minister added. “The transportation cost via road costs about Rs 1.50 per km and by railways it will be Re 1. But transportation via waterways cost just 30 paisa per km, which means tranporation costs would come down five times,” the minister added.
