NW-1 will help save more than 150,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent in greenhouse gas emissions annually by moving cargo away from fossil fuel-consuming road and rail networks

All vessels to use cleaner fuels such as liquefied natural gas

All terminals and vessels will have zero discharge standards — waste from vessels will be emptied only at designated barge-maintenance stations for treatment

Vessels travelling through critical aquatic habitats will restrict speed to 5 km per hour, will use noise mufflers and propeller guards

There will be no dredging in protected habitat

The country got its first multi-modal river port — with access to road and rail linkages — on November 12. The port, in Varanasi , also received its first container cargo of goods from Kolkata. The inauguration of the port was hailed as a momentous occasion as movement of cargo via rivers and canals will reduce road congestion, save cost and help to cut down on greenhouse gas emission. The National Waterways Act, which identified 111 inland national waterways, is expected to give a boost to this mode of transport. A snapshot: