Trial run of 2 cargo vessels today

VARANASI: Two cargo vessels loaded with goods are ready to be flagged off from the Aghoreshwar Bhagwan Ram Ghat for trial run by Union minister for shipping, road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday. The minister will also lay the foundation stone of the multi-modal terminal on the occasion. The authorities of Inland Waterways Authorities of India (IWAI), including chairman Amitabh Verma and vice-chairman Praveen Pandey reached here on Thursday to give final touches to the function.
The two vessels, MV Joy Basudev (capacity 1,400 tonnes) and MV VV Giri (capacity 300 tonnes), containing newly assembled cars and construction material, respectively will be flagged off from Varanasi. Talking to reporters, Verma said the regular ferry of vessels from Varanasi to Kolkata will start in June next year and the terminals at Varanasi, Sahebganj, Haldia and others places will complete by March 2019. The contract for construction of Phase I of the multi-modal terminal at Varanasi has been awarded to AFCONS Infrastructure Ltd at an estimated cost of Rs 170 crore.