The Government of India has announced plans to operationalise 76 national waterways by 2027.
This ambitious initiative aims to enhance the country’s inland water transport (IWT) system, reduce logistics costs, and contribute to the decarbonisation of the transport sector. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) presented this roadmap during a high-level meeting in Mumbai, outlining the strategy to increase cargo movement through India’s rivers to 156 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by March 2026. This target nearly doubles the current volumes and aligns with the broader Maritime India Vision 2030, which aims for 200 MTPA cargo movement on inland waterways by the decade’s end.
The operational coverage of inland water transport is set to expand from 11 states in 2024 to 23 states and four Union Territories by 2027. This expansion is expected to unlock significant economic potential, particularly in regions with underutilised waterways. A ₹1,400 crore investment push has already been initiated following the Inland Waterways Development Council meeting earlier this year. This funding will support the development of infrastructure, including terminals, fairway development, and the construction of vessels.
At the core of this transformation is the Regional Waterways Grid, a strategic framework enabling seamless cargo and passenger movement along high-potential corridors. One such important route spans 4,067 kilometres, connecting Varanasi to Dibrugarh, Karimganj, and Badarpur via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route. This single corridor is projected to handle 32.2 MMTPA cargo by 2033. Key infrastructure upgrades are underway on National Waterway 1 (Ganga), covering a 1,390-kilometre stretch. Dedicated terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj, Kalughat, and Haldia are being developed to handle larger, more efficient vessels of 1,500 to 2,000 Deadweight Tonnage (DWT).
Special attention is being given to the Northeast, with a ₹5,000 crore plan for new terminals on National Waterway 2 (Brahmaputra) and fairway development to enable year-round navigation. These projects aim to connect the Northeast with eastern India and the Bay of Bengal, opening up trade and tourism opportunities. India’s river tourism is also gaining momentum, with the number of operational cruise circuits rising from three in 2014 to 15 in 2025. Over 51 additional circuits have been identified for phased development. New cruise terminals are under construction in Kolkata, while feasibility studies are ongoing for similar facilities in Varanasi and Guwahati.
Aligned with the government’s green transport agenda, the push for electric and hydrogen-powered vessels under the Harit Nauka guidelines and urban water metro projects are further modernising India’s inland waterway infrastructure. Supported by recent legal reforms, the initiative represents a critical step towards sustainable, competitive logistics and eco-friendly mobility solutions for India’s future.
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