{"id":43323,"date":"2025-05-14T20:53:12","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T15:23:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=43323"},"modified":"2025-05-14T20:53:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T15:23:29","slug":"india-strengthening-inland-water-transport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/14-05-2025\/india-strengthening-inland-water-transport","title":{"rendered":"Strengthening Inland Water Transport in India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Infrastructure<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)<\/strong> has established a new <strong>regional office in Srinagar,<\/strong> committed \u20b9100 crore<strong> to improve three National Waterways in the region <\/strong>\u2014 <strong>River Chenab (NW-26)<\/strong>, <strong>River Jhelum (NW-49)<\/strong>, and <strong>River Ravi (NW-84).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Key Highlights<\/strong><br>&#8211; A MoU was signed between <strong>IWAI and the J&amp;K Government<\/strong> to promote river cruise tourism.<br>1. Ten floating jetties aimed to be installed at key locations, including Akhnoor, Reasi, Pantha Chowk, Zero Bridge, Amira Kadal, and Safa Kadal.<br>&#8211; IWAI aims to construct <strong>floating jetties and landside facilities<\/strong> to support passenger and cargo movement.<br>1. Dredging operations will be conducted to maintain navigational fairways for safe vessel movement.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Inland Water Transport in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>National Waterways Act, 2016<\/strong> has declared <strong>111 inland waterways as \u2018National Waterways\u2019 (NWs)<\/strong> in the country to promote shipping and navigation on them.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>total length of NWs is 20,275 km<\/strong> spread <strong>across 24 States<\/strong> in the country.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Currently, Indian operates to a few stretches in the <strong>Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly<\/strong> rivers, the <strong>Brahmaputra<\/strong>, the <strong>Barak river,<\/strong> the <strong>rivers in Goa<\/strong>, the <strong>backwaters in Kerala<\/strong>,<strong> inland waters in Mumbai<\/strong> and the deltaic regions of the <strong>Godavari &#8211; Krishna<\/strong> rivers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)<\/strong><br>&#8211; It is an <strong>autonomous organization <\/strong>constituted in <strong>1986<\/strong> under the <strong>Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985, <\/strong>under the <strong>Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, <\/strong>based on recommendations of the <strong>National Transport Policy Committee (1980).<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>Headquarter:<\/strong> Noida, Uttar Pradesh.<br>1. <strong>Regional Offices:<\/strong> Patna, Kolkata, Guwahati, Varanasi, Bhubaneswar, and Kochi.<br>2. <strong>Sub-Offices:<\/strong> Prayagraj, Farakka, Sahibganj, Haldia, Swroopganj, Hemnagar, Dibrugarh, Dhubri, Silchar, Kollam, and Vijayawada.<br>&#8211; It is primarily responsible for development, maintenance and regulation of those waterways which have been declared as <strong>National Waterways (NWs) under National Waterways Act, 2016.<\/strong><br><strong>Key Functions of IWAI<\/strong><br>&#8211; Development of National Waterways<br>&#8211; Regulation and Policy Implementation<br>&#8211; Hydrographic Surveys and Navigational Aids<br>&#8211; Promotion of River Cruise Tourism<br><strong>Major National Waterways<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>National Waterway 1 (NW-1):<\/strong> Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Haldia to Prayagraj, 1,620 km)<strong>National Waterway 2 (NW-2):<\/strong> Brahmaputra River (Dhubri to Sadiya, 891 km)<br>&#8211; <strong>National Waterway 3 (NW-3):<\/strong> West Coast Canal, Champakara &amp; Udyogmandal Canals (Kottapuram to Kollam, 205 km)<br>&#8211; <strong>National Waterway 4 (NW-4):<\/strong> Godavari, Krishna Rivers &amp; Buckingham Canal (Kakinada to Puducherry, 1,095 km)<br>&#8211; <strong>National Waterway 5 (NW-5):<\/strong> Brahmani River, Mahanadi Delta &amp; East Coast Canal (Talcher to Dhamra, 623 km)<br>&#8211; <strong>National Waterway 16 (NW-16):<\/strong> Barak River (Lakhipur to Bhanga, 121 km)\u00a0<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/25-04-2025\/india-record-cargo-movement-on-inland-waterways\"><strong>Advantages of Inland Water Transport<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Cost-Effective Logistics: <\/strong>Waterways offer lower transportation costs compared to road and rail.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fuel consumption per ton-km is significantly less, reducing overall logistics expenses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1 Litre of fuel <\/strong>moves<strong> 24 tonne on road<\/strong>, <strong>95 tonne on rail<\/strong> and<strong> 215 tonne on IWT<\/strong> (for a kilometer).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reducing Pressure on Rail and Road Networks:<\/strong> India\u2019s railways and highways are overburdened, leading to delays and inefficiencies.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>IWT can supplement existing transport modes, improving cargo movement efficiency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Environmentally Sustainable:<\/strong> IWT produces lower carbon emissions, making it a greener mode of transport.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reduces traffic congestion and air pollution in urban areas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Expanding IWT Beyond Cargo Transport<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Roll-on\/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) Services:<\/strong> Enables vehicle transportation across waterways, reducing road congestion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tourism Development:<\/strong> Promotes river cruises, houseboats, and eco-tourism, boosting local economies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Passenger Ferry Services:<\/strong> Provides affordable and efficient travel options, especially in remote regions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Government Initiatives\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP):<\/strong> It focuses on developing NW-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system) for cargo movement.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Includes multi-modal terminals, navigational locks, and fairway development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/16-12-2024\/jalvahak-scheme-to-boost-inland-waterways\"><strong>Jalvahak Scheme<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> It provides operating cost incentives for cargo owners using IWT routes.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It aims to increase IWT\u2019s modal share from 2% to 5% by 2030.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hybrid Electric and Hydrogen Vessels:<\/strong> It promotes green technology for sustainable inland navigation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/03-03-2025\/national-waterways-regulations-2025\"><strong>National Waterways (Construction of Jetties\/ Terminals) Regulations, 2025:<\/strong><\/a> The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has introduced new regulations, formulated by IWAI, to streamline processes and promote efficient use of India\u2019s vast waterways network.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Government\u2019s Vision for Inland Water Transport<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Shipping Ministry<\/strong> has set a goal <strong>to complete 150 maritime projects<\/strong> by September 2025, strengthening India\u2019s inland waterways sector.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>Harbour Craft Green Transition Programme<\/strong> aims to accelerate the adoption of <strong>clean energy solutions<\/strong> across Indian ports.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A <strong>Coastal Green Shipping Corridor<\/strong> is being developed, with the Kandla-Tuticorin route as the first corridor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenges and Future Prospects<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Limited Depth in Rivers:<\/strong> Seasonal variations affect navigability, requiring dredging and water management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Infrastructure Gaps:<\/strong> Need for modern terminals, jetties, and intermodal connectivity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Investment:<\/strong> Encouraging private sector participation in IWT development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>India\u2019s inland waterways<\/strong> can become a <strong>key pillar <\/strong>of sustainable transport, reducing logistics costs and environmental impact, with continued policy support and technological advancements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By enhancing waterway connectivity, tourism, and economic opportunities, the initiative aligns with <strong>India\u2019s broader Blue Economy vision.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2128419\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Source: PIB<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has established a new regional office in Srinagar, committed \u20b9100 crore to improve three National Waterways in the region \u2014 River Chenab (NW-26), River Jhelum (NW-49), and River Ravi (NW-84).<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Inland Water Transport in India<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">National Waterways Act, 2016 has declared 111 inland waterways as \u2018National Waterways\u2019 (NWs) in the country to promote shipping and navigation on them.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The total length of NWs is 20,275 km spread across 24 States in the country.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Currently, Indian operates to a few stretches in the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly rivers, the Brahmaputra, the Barak river, the rivers in Goa, the backwaters in Kerala, inland waters in Mumbai and the deltaic regions of the Godavari &#8211; Krishna rivers.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/14-05-2025\/india-strengthening-inland-water-transport\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43323"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43323\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43355,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43323\/revisions\/43355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}