Varanasi, Sept. 20 -- letters@htlive.com

Dredging work in the Ganga River between Varanasi and Ghazipur, extending up to Majhauva in Bihar, is scheduled to begin on October 1 to ensure the smooth and safe movement of vessels along National Waterway-1 (NW-1).

The project aims to create a 30-metre wide and 2.5-metre deep navigable channel by removing hard strata, mainly composed of calcareous siltstone, which currently hinder vessel movement, especially during the lean season when water levels drop significantly.

Divisional commissioner of Varanasi, S Rajalingam, confirmed that dredging will commence as soon as floodwaters recede. He stated that this stretch is an important part of NW-1 and that the removal of hard layers from the riverb...