Varanasi,  Nov 12 (KNN) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated country's first multi-modal terminal on River Ganga river in Varanasi.  He also received the country's first container cargo transported on inland waterways from Kolkata.

 Its objective is to promote inland waterways as a cheap and environment-friendly means of transportation, especially for cargo movement.

The first consignment consisted of food and beverage and was sent in the last week of October.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and BJP state president Mahendra Nath Pandey, who is also the MP of the neighbouring Chandauli Lok Sabha constituency were also present at the event.

This is the first of the four multi-modal terminals being constructed on the National Waterway-1 (river Ganga) as part of the World Bank-aided Jal Marg Vikas project of the Inland Waterways Authority of India.

The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 5,369.18 crore, which will be equally shared between the Government of India and the World Bank.