Sahibganj (Jharkhand), April 6 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday laid the foundation stone of a multi-modal terminal and a four-lane bridge on the Ganga river in Jharkhand's Sahibganj district,

The multi-modal terminal is an important component of the development of the National Waterway-1 from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to Haldia in West Bengal, a distance of 1,390 km.

The four-lane bridge on the Ganga river will be connecting Sahibganj, some 450 km from state capital Ranchi, to Manihari in Bihar's Katihar district.

Modi inaugurated the projects in the presence of Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das and Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Modi said: "Our government has taken historic decision to develop waterways. It has taken the developing waterways as challenge. The Varanasi to Haldia waterways will be developed and open new door for development."

"The waterways on the Ganga river will connect Jharkhand to the world. Jharkhand is a land-locked state but after developing waterways, it will get connected to the world and become part of economic revolution," he added.

"Corruption and black money destroyed the country like termites. With people's blessings, I am fighting corruption and will continue to do so."