<span style="color: #222222;">Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has said, the government is keen to start inland waterways navigation and passenger transportation in the rivers of North Eastern states. <br />''<br />''Mr Mandaviya said, the public sector company WAPCOS is preparing a model Detailed Project Report (DPR) for running low-cost ferry services in the inland waterways in these states. <br />''<br />''The Shipping Ministry, in a release, said the model DPR can be adopted for quick implementation by the Inland Waterways Authority of India in consultation with the different state governments in the region.<br />''<br />''Mr Mandaviya also said that inland waterways transport can be a game-changer for the North-Eastern states as land routes in the region are often long, circuitous and time consuming due to the difficult terrain. <br />''<br />''He said, besides bringing ease of movement, the waterways projects will also help generate employment locally.</span><br />