The development of National Waterway-1 (NW-1), which runs along the Ganga River and connects Haldia-Kolkata-Farakka-Munger-Patna-Varanasi-Allahabad, has given a major boost to industries in the region. This waterway facilitates cheap and efficient transport of raw materials like coal and finished products like fertilizers and cement.
For instance, industries in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal benefit from this waterway by transporting heavy and bulky goods at lower costs compared to road or rail. This has reduced input costs for industries and made exports easier, providing a significant impetus to industrial growth.
Thus, the development of NW-1 along the Ganga is a clear example of how waterways can promote industrialization.