<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:
"Times New Roman",serif">Ambitious plans to transform the historic Buckingham
Canal into a modern economic engine have gained momentum following a formal
appeal by Rajya Sabha MP Mastan Rao Yadav. Addressing the Parliament during a
special mention, Mr. Yadav urged the Central Government to sanctioned an
integrated multi-modal logistics corridor within the SPSR Nellore district. The
proposal envisions a synergistic transport network that combines inland
waterways with road connectivity, aimed specifically at slashing exorbitant logistics
costs and decongesting the increasingly saturated National Highways that
currently handle the bulk of the region's freight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:
"Times New Roman",serif">The centerpiece of this vision is a strategic pilot
project designed to link two of Andhra Pradesh’s most vital maritime gateways:
the established Krishnapatnam Port and the burgeoning Ramayapatnam Port. Mr.
Yadav’s blueprint specifies the development of a 60-metre wide canal corridor
dedicated to inland water transport, running parallel to a newly proposed
30-metre road corridor. This dual-infrastructure approach is intended to create
a seamless transit loop that could serve five to six major industrial hubs in
the vicinity. Proponents of the project argue that this shift toward
water-based transport will not only lower the carbon footprint of local
industry but also trigger a surge in local employment and ancillary business
growth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:
"Times New Roman",serif">Spanning a total of 426 kilometers, the Buckingham
Canal remains a cornerstone of National Waterway-4 (NW-4). The waterway is
geographically categorized into a 316-km northern stretch extending from
Pedaganjam to Chennai Central and a 110-km southern segment reaching
Marakkanam. However, the canal’s transition from a colonial-era relic to a
modern industrial asset faces significant hurdles. As a tidal canal, it is
frequently plagued by severe dry stretches during the non-monsoon months,
rendering consistent navigation nearly impossible. Furthermore, systemic
encroachments along various sections have narrowed the waterway, complicating
any immediate efforts at large-scale dredging or expansion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:
"Times New Roman",serif">Responding to the proposal, Union Minister for Ports,
Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed that the government is
already laying the technical groundwork for future development. The Inland
Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has recently concluded a comprehensive
hydrographic survey of NW-4, including the specific stretches of the Buckingham
Canal mentioned by the MP. While the Minister acknowledged the project's
potential, he advised a cautious approach until the survey findings are fully analyzed.
He further clarified that any successful restoration would require a robust
partnership with the State Government, which bears the primary responsibility
for clearing illegal encroachments and repairing dilapidated canal
infrastructure to make the multi-modal corridor a reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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