Thirteen out of the 26 national waterways identified as viable for cargo and passenger movement in India have begun development work. The National Waterways Act of 2016 declared 111 inland waterways as National Waterways (NWs) to promote water transport in the country. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, oversees the development of inland waterways for shipping and navigation purposes.
The IWAI has formulated an action plan for 26 NWs that have been deemed feasible for cargo and passenger transportation based on the outcome of techno-economic feasibility and detailed project reports. The infrastructure developed on these NWs includes channels with navigational facilities and terminals/jetties that may also be used by ferry/tourist vessels. Under the Sagarmala scheme, financial assistance for the construction of passenger jetties and infrastructure facilities on waterways in Karnataka has been approved. In 2021-22, inland water transport through NWs recorded cargo movement of 108.79 million metric tonne (MMT).
The promotion of inland water transport can lead to cheaper and more environmentally friendly means of transportation for bulk goods such as coal, fly ash, and iron ore. Additionally, the use of inland waterways can reduce the logistics costs for moving local food and create jobs in areas where development work is taking place. The development work on the NWs is expected to bring economic benefits to the country and provide an alternative mode of transportation for goods and passengers.
