Read the passage given below carefully:
The transition toward inland waterway transportation within regional freight logistics is frequently championed as an ecologically superior alternative to road-dominated transport networks. By shifting heavy bulk cargo from highways to river corridors, policy frameworks aim to drastically curb carbon emissions, mitigate highway traffic congestion, and reduce long-term public expenditure on road maintenance. However, an exclusive policy focus on basic modal shifting often obscures the severe structural friction inherent in intermodal transshipment points. Port infrastructure along inland waterways frequently lacks seamless physical and operational integration with existing rail lines and feeder road systems, resulting in prolonged vessel dwell times and inflated handling costs for logistics operators. Furthermore, seasonal hydrological variations, increasingly exacerbated by changing global climate patterns, introduce severe operational unpredictability regarding river draft depth, which destabilizes fixed commercial delivery schedules. Consequently, substituting highway freight with river transport cannot succeed merely through capital investments in modern vessel fleets or financial fuel subsidies. To achieve true systemic efficiency and environmental sustainability, national transport planning must move beyond fleet expansion to prioritize integrated corridor management, hinterland infrastructure upgrading, and predictive water-level forecasting systems that harmonize multi-modal supply chains.
Which of the following statements best reflects the central thesis of the passage?
- A successful shift to inland waterway freight requires holistic corridor planning and multi-modal integration rather than isolated investments in vessel fleets and subsidies.Cevap
- BInland waterway transport has failed to reduce carbon emissions and road congestion due to poor port infrastructure and unpredictable river draft levels.
- CRailways represent a significantly more reliable and cost-effective alternative for heavy freight transport than inland waterways during severe climate disruptions.
- DGovernments must completely abandon highway infrastructure subsidies and mandate the shift of all heavy cargo to river corridors.