NEW DELHI : Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, informed in a written reply to the Lok Sabha that, the Government of India has embarked upon a transformational drive to promote Inland Water Transport (IWT) as a key pillar of India’s multimodal transport system under Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. The primary objective encompasses creating world-class waterway infrastructure through fairway development, multimodal terminals, community jetties, river cruise terminals, regional centres of excellence, digital navigation tools, and green vessel technologies, coupled with seamless integration under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
The development and regulation of National Waterways (NWs) are spearheaded by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. To improve the Ease of Doing Business and simplify approvals, IWAI has introduced an array of digital reforms:
PANI: Portal for Asset and Navigation Information to facilitate seamless navigation planning.
Jalyan & Navic Portal: A centralized database and digital portal developed on the lines of ‘Vahan’ and ‘Sarathi’ for nationwide online registration of vessels and crew, enabling accurate tracking and strategic planning.
CAR-D: Cargo Data Portal for real-time tracking and logistics data integration.
Jal Samriddhi Portal: Dedicated portal supporting commercial and operational activities across National Waterways.
Digital Charts and Hydrographic Surveys: Modern hydrographic charts provided digitally to Mariners for enhanced safety.
These infrastructure, digital, and policy reforms have resulted in the operationalization of 32 National Waterways across the country, laying the foundation for a technology-driven, sustainable, and globally competitive IWT ecosystem that reduces logistics costs, promotes green mobility, and accelerates inclusive economic growth.
LOGISTICS EFFICIENCY & ENVIRONMENTAL COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
Inland Water Transport serves as an economic and environmentally friendly alternate mode of transport to Rail and Road, significantly reducing congestion on existing transport networks.
Economic Freight Cost Comparison (2014 Price Baseline)
Inland Water Transport (IWT): Rs. 1.06 per Ton-Kilometer (TKm)
Railways: Rs. 1.36 per Ton-Kilometer (TKm)
Highways (Road): Rs. 2.50 per Ton-Kilometer (TKm)
(Source: Ministry of Railways, TTSS, and IWAI)Environmental Impact & Emission Analysis
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions: IWT emits 0.0006 Rs/TKm, on par with Railways (0.0006 Rs/TKm) and significantly lower than Roadways (0.0031 Rs/TKm).
Air Pollution Costs: IWT accounts for 0.03 Rs/TKm, compared to 0.0366 Rs/TKm for Railways and 0.202 Rs/TKm for Roadways.
Noise, Soil & Water Pollution: IWT has negligible impact on noise, soil, and water pollution, whereas Road transport incurs 0.0032 Rs/TKm (noise) and 0.005 Rs/TKm (soil/water).
(Source: 12th Five Year Plan, Planning Commission TTS Study, PIANC)POLICY MEASURES & SECTORAL REFORMS
Jalvahak Scheme: A scheme providing 35% financial incentive to cargo owners and scheduled operators for cargo movement on NW-1, NW-2, and NW-16 via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route by Inland & Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL). Approved at a budget of Rs. 95.42 Crore for 3 years.
Tonnage Tax Extension: Announced in the Union Budget on 01.02.2025, extending the special taxation system under the Indian Vessels Act, 2021 to inland vessels operating on NWs, rivers, and canals. Tax is calculated based on vessel size (tonnage) rather than net profit, ensuring stable, predictable, and lower tax burden.
National Waterways Regulations 2025: Notified to provide a transparent regulatory framework that encourages private sector capital investment in building and operating inland waterways terminals and jetties.
Cargo Aggregation & MMLPs: To resolve multimodality challenges arising from lack of industrial concentration along river banks, Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLP) at Varanasi and Integrated Cluster-cum-Logistics Park at Sahibganj are being developed through NHLML (MoRTH). Rail connectivity to 3 MMTs is assigned to M/s Indian Port and Rail Company Ltd.
PSU Cargo Shift Mandate: Over 140 Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) across key ministries (Petroleum & Natural Gas, Co-operation, Fertilizer, Food & Public Distribution, Heavy Industries, Steel, and Coal) have been engaged to mandate cargo allocation and modal shift to waterways.
The Coastal Shipping Act, 2025: Enacted to modernize regulation at par with international standards, expand vessel chartering entities, reduce compliance burdens, and foster ease of doing business. Effective from 15.03.2026.
Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme: Announced in Union Budget 2026–27 to increase the share of Inland Waterways and Coastal Shipping from 6% to 12% by 2047.
IBP Route Operationalization: Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route No. 5 & 6 between Maia and Sultanganj has been operationalized with successful trial movements.
REGIONAL WATERWAYS DEVELOPMENT & NATIONWIDE STATUS
Northeast Region (NER) Waterways (NW-2 & NW-16)
In addition to completed works (MMLP Jogighopa terminal, Bogibeel cargo-cum-tourist terminal, Dhubri & Bogibeel customs/immigration buildings, and NH-27 approach road), key ongoing projects include:
Fairway development via Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) on NW-2 (Rs. 143 Crore).
Ship Repair Facility at Pandu (revised cost Rs. 283 Crore).
Tourist Jetty at Bishwanath Ghat & Cargo-cum-Cruise Terminal at Neamati Ghat (Rs. 158 Crore).
Regional Centre of Excellence at Dibrugarh (Rs. 188 Crore).
Steel Gangway with Yoke System at Pandu (Rs. 2.88 Crore).
Regional Office, MSDC, Guest House & ITAT building at Fancy Bazar (Rs. 50.00 Crore).
Link Road connecting Pandu Terminal with Ship Repair Facility (Rs. 55 Crore).
2 Steel Pontoons (Rs. 3.40 Crore) and 2 SDB Vessels (Rs. 2.88 Crore) for NW-2.
Mathematical Modelling of Bogibeel Approach Channel (Rs. 0.60 Crore) and DPR for Community Jetties (Rs. 5.56 Crore).
Southern Region Waterways (Kerala, Andhra Pradesh & Telangana)
Kerala (NW-3, NW-8, NW-9): Continued fairway development on NW-3, NW-8 & NW-9. Reconstruction of navigation lock at Thrikunnapuzha and single-lane bridge at Kovilthottam entrusted to Kerala Govt on deposit basis. 24-hour navigational aids installed (15 in NW-8, 25 in NW-9) along with 4 HDPE jetties in NW-3.
Andhra Pradesh & Telangana (NW-4): Land acquisition completed at Muktyala and Harichandrapuram; under progress at Ibrahimpatnam. Ro-Ro terminals developed at Muktyala and Harischandrapuram. 4 floating pontoon jetties handed over to APTDC; 3 steel floating pontoon jetties under fabrication for Krishna River in Telangana.
Eastern, Western & Northern Region Waterways
Odisha (NW-5, NW-14, NW-64): Regular thalweg surveys, 10 navigational buoys installed in Mahanadi River (NW-64), Talcher-Dhamra-Paradip stretch (NW-5) developed for coal evacuation, and 3 concrete jetties in NW-14 & NW-64.
Karnataka (NW-51, NW-90): Development of Kabini River (NW-51) and Sharavati River (NW-90) for cruise tourism with 3 concrete jetties.
Goa (NW-27, NW-68, NW-111): Mandovi, Zuari, and Cumberjua rivers developed for cruise tourism; 10 concrete jetties (including 4 floating concrete jetties on NW-68) provided.
Gujarat (NW-73, NW-100): Development in Narmada River (NW-73) and Tapi River (NW-100) with 2 floating concrete jetties installed in Narmada and 2 in Tapi.
West Bengal (NW-44, NW-97): Swaroopnagar single lane bridge across Ichamati River (NW-44) completed in March 2026 and inaugurated by Hon’ble PM. Sundarban Waterways (NW-97) 201 km international route maintained under PIWTT.
UT of Jammu & Kashmir: Onshore facilities, floating concrete jetties, and nav aids initiated for Jhelum (NW-49), Chenab (NW-26), and Ravi (NW-84).
Himachal Pradesh & Punjab: Feasibility studies underway for Beas River (NW-17) and Sutlej River (NW-98).
List of Sagarmala- funded Projects in Andhra Pradesh
IWAI initiated fairway development in the Vijayawada–Muktyala stretch (82 km) of NW-4 in 2014. The IWT terminal at Muktyala (NTR District) is completed, while Harischandrapuram (Guntur District) is underway. Updation of DPR for NW-4 (Kakinada–Puducherry Canal integrated with Krishna & Godavari) is ongoing. The Commamuru Canal (113 km from Vijayawada to Pedaganjam Lock) passes through Bapatla District, connecting NW-4 with the North Buckingham Canal towards Chennai.
Under the Sagarmala Scheme, 9 projects worth Rs. 1,286 Crore have been sanctioned for Andhra Pradesh:
