IWAI launches Ro-Ro service from Neamati to Manjuli Island

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) in collaboration with Assam Government has launched new Roll on-Roll off (Ro-Ro) facility connecting Neamati to Manjuli Island in Assam.

• The Ro-Ro facility will cut down circuitous road route of 423 km that trucks take from Neamati to Majuli Island via Tezpur Road Bridge.
• It will limit distance between these points to only 12.7 km with use of the river route.
• For this, IWAI has procured a new vessel "MV Bhupen Hazarika" and is also providing needed terminal infrastructure.
• The vessel is 46.5-metre-long, 13.3-metre-wide and has a carrying capacity of eight trucks and 100 passengers.
• The commencement of Ro-Ro services to Majuli island would be a landmark event towards augmenting connectivity not only in Assam but the entire North Eastern Region.

More about the Ro-Ro Ferry Service:

• It refers to vessels used to carry wheeled cargo like cars, semi-trailer trucks, trucks, trailers, and railroad cars that are driven on (rolled on) and off (rolled off) ferry on their own wheels or using a platform vehicle.

Interesting to know:

• Manjuli is world's largest riverine islands located on Brahmaputra River. 
• It has 144 villages with a population of over 1,50,000.
• The habitants of the island are facing serious challenges of connectivity.
• They cross the river using conventional ferry service at various locations for their day to day needs.
• In absence of adequate number of bridges, cargo and passenger movement takes through longer road routes leading to critical loss of time and money.
• Earlier, IWAI had started similar Ro-Ro service between Dhubri and Hatsingimari which had reduced the travel distance by 190 kms.
• A permanent Ro-Ro terminal was constructed at Dhubri for the purpose.
• It has also constructed floating terminals at 11 locations along the length of Brahmaputra waterway.

About Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI):

• IWAI is a nodal statutory body in charge of development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation.
• It was established in October 1986 and is headquartered in Noida, UP.
• Its main function is to build necessary infrastructure in inland waterways, surveying economic feasibility of new projects and also carrying out administration and regulation.
• It undertakes projects for development and maintenance of IWT infrastructure on national waterways through the grant received from Ministry of Shipping.

Question:

Q. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) in collaboration with Assam Government has launched which new facility connecting Neamati to Manjuli Island in Assam?
a. Hop on-Hop off (Ho-Ho)
b. Get on-Get off (Go-Go)
c. Roll on-Roll off (Ro-Ro)
d. None of the above