India’s Waterways Rediscovered: Charting a New Course for Viksit Bharat

Syllabus: GS3/Infrastructure

Context

• India’s rivers, once the arteries of trade and cultural exchange, are being reimagined as engines of modern economic growth. 
• As India Maritime Week 2025 approaches, the nation’s focus on inland waterways reflects a shift towards green logistics, inclusive growth, and sustainable development. 
• The government’s efforts under the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) embody the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, where ecological balance and economic efficiency coexist.

River Transport in India

• India’s rivers were the nation’s first highways, goods floated effortlessly from the Ganga and Brahmaputra in the north to the Godavari and Krishna in the south, carrying grain, salt, and stories downstream.
  • Ancient cities like Varanasi and Kolkata thrived as river ports, and colonial powers relied heavily on riverine routes for trade.
• But with time, steel rails and asphalt replaced these natural arteries, leaving rivers as silent witnesses to a bygone era of trade.
• Infrastructure neglect and sedimentation further reduced navigability, leaving this once-thriving network underutilized.

Strategic Shift Toward Waterways

• India’s vast network of 14,500 km of navigable inland waterways is being positioned as a key pillar of sustainable infrastructure, which were historically underutilized. It includes:
  • Jal Marg Vikas Project on the Ganga River to enhance navigation from Haldia to Varanasi.
  • Development of National Waterways, with over 100 declared routes.
  • Integration with PM GatiShakti, the national master plan for multi-modal connectivity.

Economic and Environmental Advantages

• Waterways offer distinct advantages: lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions, and cost-effective logistics.
  • Cargo Movement: from 18 million tonnes (2013–14) to 145 million tonnes (2024–25);
  • Target: 200 million tonnes by 2030 and 450 million tonnes by 2047;
• These advantages are especially critical as India aims for 8–10% annual growth to meet its development targets.
• Every litre of fuel can move 24 tonnes/km by road; 95 tonnes/km by rail; and 215 tonnes/km by inland waterway;
  • Thus, expanding inland shipping could save billions in fuel imports while slashing emissions, aligning with India’s commitment to net-zero by 2070.
• Reviving Riverine Economies:
  • Boosting local employment through port development and logistics hubs.
  • Encouraging tourism and cultural exchange along heritage river routes.
  • Enhancing connectivity for remote regions, especially in the Northeast and Eastern India.

Related Initiatives & Efforts

• Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP): It is supported by the World Bank, aims to restore the Ganga as a viable economic corridor, spanning 1,390 km from Varanasi to Haldia.
  • Its terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj, Kalughat, and Haldia handle cargo.
  • It complements the Eastern Waterway Grid Connectivity Project, linking the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Barak rivers into a seamless network.
• Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI): It has spearheaded a revival — rediscovering, reimagining, and rejuvenating India’s rivers as sustainable transport routes.
  • India now boasts 111, covering 14,500 km of navigable channels, from just 5 national waterways in 2014. Of these, 32 are operational, marking a tenfold expansion in less than a decade.
• Ro-Ro, Ro-Pax & Smart River Systems: The introduction of Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax services in Assam, Kerala, Bihar, and West Bengal has created floating bridges for passengers and vehicles, reshaping daily commutes.
  • Meanwhile, digital tools like:
    • Jal Samriddhi Portal: streamlines approvals for jetties and terminals;
    • Naudharshika: a real-time river traffic monitoring system, acting as India’s maritime GPS;
  • These innovations ensure safety, transparency, and efficiency across India’s waterways.
• Cruise Tourism: River tourism has surged from just 5 vessels a decade ago to 25 cruise ships across 13 waterways.
  • The Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Kerala backwaters host luxury cruises equipped with electric shore power and 24-hour navigation systems.
  • Future plans include:
    • Cruise tourism on the Narmada and Yamuna;
    • Eco-tourism circuits along Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum;
    • Urban water metros in 18 cities, modeled on Kochi’s Water Metro, integrating sustainability with everyday life.
• Key Legislation and Green Innovation: India’s legislative reforms have modernized the inland waterways ecosystem:
  • National Waterways Act (2016): expanded the network;
  • Inland Vessels Act (2021): standardized safety and certification;
  • Harit Nauka Guidelines (2024): promoted hybrid and green vessels;
  • Jalvahak Scheme: incentivizes modal shift from road to water, exploring carbon credits;
  • The Cochin Shipyard has launched India’s first hydrogen-fuel-cell vessel in Varanasi.
  • Hybrid and electric barges are being deployed to reduce emissions, while digital systems like CAR-D, PANI, and Vessel Tracker enhance logistics management.
• Building Skills for a Blue Economy: Reviving river highways means nurturing a new generation of skilled professionals — navigators, engineers, and environmentalists.
  • To bridge this gap, IWAI has established training hubs such as:
    • National Inland Navigation Institute, Patna;
    • Centre of Excellence, Bogibeel (Assam);
  • These institutions are preparing India’s workforce for a blue economy built on innovation and ecological balance.

Strengthening India’s Waterways Transport

• The Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways recently announced that India is targeting ₹80 lakh crore in maritime investments and the creation of 1.5 crore jobs by 2047. It includes:
  • Expansion of port capacity across all 12 major ports;
  • Development of National Waterways, with over 100 declared routes;
  • Integration with PM GatiShakti for multimodal logistics;
• India’s rediscovery of its waterways is more than a logistics reform — it’s a civilizational reconnection. 
• As Viksit Bharat 2047 envisions a high-income, sustainable economy, rivers are reasserting their role as catalysts of inclusive development. 
• Inland waterways could transform the way India moves, trades, and thrives, with policy continuity, digital navigation systems, and private participation.

Source: BS