For transporting coal to its various stations in the country, India's largest power producer NTPC has turned to inland waterways. The first consignment will land next month at Farakka power station in West Bengal. This will be followed by transportation of coal through National Waterways for its upcoming power plant at Barh near Patna in Bihar, and another station at Bongaigaon in Assam.    

For seven years, NTPC will transport three million tonne of imported coal each year from Haldia to Farakka through the National Waterway-I. The transportation job has been offered through competitive bidding to Jindal ITF, which will help NTPC save nearly 15-20 per cent of the cost of transporting through land.    

The contractor has invested close to Rs 650 crore for the project. NTPC and State Governments run 10 thermal power plants along the Ganges, which is National Waterway-I. Another 10 plants are likely to be set up. This model can be utilised for coal transportation for more projects, a senior official at the Prime Minister’s Office said.