The Indian government is planning to develop 23 river systems as part of its efforts to promote the use of inland waterways for cargo and passenger transport. The move is aimed at making inland waterways a cheaper and more environment-friendly alternative to rail and road transport.
Of India’s 111 national waterways, 23 river systems have been identified as navigable for vessels. Under the National Waterways Act, these 111 waterways have been designated as national waterways to promote inland water mobility in the country.
The government has advised investors to invest in the potential of India’s river systems which have a lot of commercial potential and can offer significant returns. The world’s longest river cruise, MV Ganga Vilas, recently completed its 50-day journey in Dibrugarh, showcasing the potential of India’s waterways for tourism.
To develop the waterways, India plans to invest INR 35,000 cr by 2047 in building a network of waterways through IWAI. The plan will involve developing waterways and jetties to improve the navigable capacity of Indian rivers. The Brahmaputra River, in particular, will see significant development, creating numerous job opportunities for local people. A multi-modal cargo terminal in Dibrugarh is set to begin construction by the end of 2023. Little jetties will also be built along the Ganga as part of the government’s Arth Ganga plan to boost economic activity along riverbanks across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
The development of these river systems is expected to reduce logistics costs for farmers moving local food and make bulk goods such as coal, fly ash, and iron ore more affordable and cost-effective for transportation via inland water transport (IWT).
