Sunil Paliwal appointed as Chairman of IWAI
CHENNAI : Sunil Paliwal, Chairperson, Chennai Port Trust has been appointed as the Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in the rank and pay of secretary to the Government of India.
Sunil Paliwal, a seasoned civil servant with nearly 30 years of administrative leadership, has been appointed Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). Currently serving as Chairperson of the Chennai Port Trust, Paliwal steps into his new role as the country intensifies its push to strengthen inland water transport as a cleaner and more economical logistics alternative.
To enable his appointment, the government has temporarily elevated the IWAI Chairman’s post to the Secretary level — a move that highlights the growing strategic weight of inland waterways in India’s logistics transformation. With major national initiatives such as PM Gati Shakti and the National Logistics Policy driving multimodal integration, IWAI is positioned at the heart of several high-impact connectivity projects.
Paliwal brings deep expertise in port management, infrastructure expansion and maritime governance. At Chennai Port, he led key reforms in operations, drove cargo diversification, integrated advanced digital systems and improved last-mile connectivity. His leadership contributed significantly to modernising the port’s ecosystem and enhancing its overall competitiveness.
In his new role, Paliwal will oversee crucial national waterways programmes, including the scale-up of capacity on the Ganga (NW-1), Brahmaputra (NW-2), and other important stretches being developed to support freight movement, passenger transport and river-based tourism. He is also expected to prioritise modern terminal development, roll-on/roll-off services, night navigation infrastructure and partnerships with the private sector to accelerate the growth of inland water transport.
His appointment comes at a defining moment for the sector. Inland waterways have recorded rising cargo movement and growing industry engagement in recent years. With Paliwal at the helm, IWAI is set to build on this momentum, advancing India’s ambitions of leveraging its extensive river network for economic progress and environmentally responsible logistics.