https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

India’s Inland Waterways to Get Major Boost: 76 Waterways Operational by 2027, Targets 156 MTPA Cargo Growth

During the meeting of the Consultative Committee on Inland Waterways Transport, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) presented a detailed review of current and future projects, as well as upcoming policy directives.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Mumbai: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, chaired a high-level meeting in Mumbai on Monday, unveiling an ambitious plan to revitalize and expand India’s inland waterways infrastructure. The roadmap includes making 76 waterways operational by 2027 and driving an incremental cargo growth of 156 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by FY 2026. These initiatives are part of the broader Maritime India Vision 2030.

During the meeting of the Consultative Committee on Inland Waterways Transport, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) presented a detailed review of current and future projects, as well as upcoming policy directives. Several Members of Parliament (MPs) expressed their support for the plan, calling for enhanced budgetary allocations to accelerate the development of the sector.

Read More: Centre to Invest Rs1,000 Crore More in Inland Waterways Projects in Northeast by 2026: Sonowal

Expanding the Reach of Inland Waterways

By FY 2027, India aims to significantly increase the reach of inland water transport, expanding from 11 states in FY 2024 to 23 states and 4 Union Territories. This expansion is bolstered by the announcement of Rs 1,400 crore worth of projects in January 2025 under the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) meeting. These projects include extensive longitudinal surveys of 10,000 km to assess the Least Available Depth (LAD) for enhanced navigability.

Minister Sonowal emphasized the growing importance of inland waterways in India’s transport and logistics ecosystem, calling it a “watershed moment” for the sector. He highlighted legislative and programmatic measures, such as the National Waterways Act, 2016, the Inland Vessels Act, 2021, and flagship schemes like the Jal Marg Vikas Project, Arth Ganga, and Jal Samriddhi, which are facilitating this transformation.

Key Infrastructure Developments

One of the focal points of the development plan is the creation of a Regional Waterways Grid to allow seamless movement of vessels along key transport corridors. The Varanasi-Dibrugarh economic corridor, spanning 4,067 km, will be one of the marquee initiatives. This corridor, which will use the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route, is expected to handle 32.2 MMTPA of cargo by 2033.

On National Waterway-1 (NW-1), which runs along the Ganga, a 1,390 km waterway is being upgraded to accommodate 1,500–2,000 DWT vessels. The government is also focusing on developing major cargo terminals in key locations such as Varanasi, Kalughat, Sahibganj, and Haldia to support this growth.

In the Northeast, the government has proposed a Rs 5,000 crore roadmap for developing National Waterways-2 (Brahmaputra), National Waterways-16 (Barak), and National Waterways-31 (Dhansiri). This will include permanent terminals, a Rs 208 crore ship repair facility at Pandu, and a Rs 180 crore road connectivity project to support regional logistics and industries like Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. (NRL).

A Focus on Sustainability

The government is also prioritizing sustainability within the inland waterways sector. As part of this effort, the Harit Nauka guidelines have been introduced to procure electric catamarans and hydrogen fuel cell-powered vessels. Additionally, urban water transport and eco-friendly cruise tourism are being promoted through initiatives such as Water Metro Projects.

The river cruise tourism sector is witnessing impressive growth. Since 2013, the number of luxury cruise vessels operating on Indian rivers has increased from three to 25 in 2024-25. Furthermore, 15 cruise circuits are now operational across 13 National Waterways in nine states, and the government plans to expand this by introducing 51 new circuits by 2027. World-class terminals for river cruises are under construction in Kolkata, and feasibility studies are underway for new terminals in Varanasi and Guwahati.

Promoting Cruise Tourism and Regional Economic Development

Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shantanu Thakur, also addressed the meeting, emphasizing the government’s efforts to expand cruise tourism through strategic partnerships and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with private enterprises. “We are expanding cruise operations across key rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Yamuna, which will not only boost tourism but also contribute to regional economic development,” he said.

Support from Parliamentarians

The meeting was attended by several Members of Parliament, including Shatrughan Prasad Sinha, Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Hibi Eden, MK Raghavan, Naba Charan Majhi, Abhimanyu Sethi, and Seema Dwivedi. They reviewed the progress of inland waterway projects in states such as Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir, Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

The bold plans outlined at the meeting underscore the government’s commitment to revitalizing India’s inland waterways, positioning them as a key component of the nation’s transportation and economic future.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Satpura Tiger Reserve
Satpura Tiger Reserve Sees New Tiger Cubs; Jhalai’s First Litter Captured
Madhya Pradesh Logo IM
Hotel & Resort Operators Can Now Conduct Jungle Safaris in MP Tiger Reserves
Sanjiv Bhatt Custodial Torture Case
Gujarat High Court Rejects Sanjiv Bhatt’s First-Class Prisoner Status Plea
Yogi Adityanath
Samarth Uttar Pradesh @2047: Over 53 Lakh Citizens Share Vision for Yogi Adityanath’s Prosperity Campaign
Haryana gov resized
Haryana Government Assigns Additional Charges to Three IAS Officers
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Record-Breaking Diwali Trade in Chhattisgarh: Rs. 16,000 Crore Boost Fuels Economic Growth and 'Vocal for Local' Movement
CM Vishnu Sai Sohrai Karma Mahotsav 2025
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Sai Celebrates Sohrai Karma Mahotsav 2025, Announces Major Grants and Development Projects for Rautia Community
8th pay commission
CSS Forum Urges PM Modi: Constitute 8th CPC Soon to Boost Employee Morale and Support ‘Developed India 2047’
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Satpura Tiger Reserve
Satpura Tiger Reserve Sees New Tiger Cubs; Jhalai’s First Litter Captured
Madhya Pradesh Logo IM
Hotel & Resort Operators Can Now Conduct Jungle Safaris in MP Tiger Reserves
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT