Transportation of foodgrains through waterways has been explored as an alternate mode to rail and road. This information was given by the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Raosaheb Patil Danve in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

The Minister said that 10,000 MT foodgrains have been moved on a pilot basis through multimodal route (Sea, River and Road) from depots of Andhra Pradesh to Agartala (Tripura) via Ashuganj (Bangladesh). Also, transportation of foodgrains from designated depots of Andhra Pradesh to designated depots of Kerala via Coastal route is underway and 81,000 MT (approx) foodgrains have been moved ex-Andhra Pradesh to Kerala so far.

He said that Waterways transportation is only an alternative means of transport and does not impact Central and State Revenue laws and taxes.

The Minster said that for the current projects involving transportation of foodgrains through waterways, contracts have been awarded to private parties through open tender.

He said that so far the foodgrains have been moved to Tripura and Kerala based on economic and physical feasibility.