Indian government is moving forward with plans to operationalise 47 new inland waterways across the country by 2027. This move is part of a broader agenda under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) to enhance low-emission, cost-effective cargo movement and reduce the reliance on road and rail freight.
Once fully operational, the expanded network will bring the total number of functional inland waterways in India to 76, marking a pivotal step in decarbonising the nation’s freight movement. Officials have projected that the enhanced network will boost cargo throughput by an additional 156 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by the close of the 2026 financial year.The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is currently undertaking longitudinal hydrographic surveys, covering nearly 10,000 kilometres each month, to chart navigable depths and ensure seamless vessel passage. These assessments are crucial in establishing consistent and commercially viable navigation routes across India’s extensive river systems.
With an ambitious target of moving 200 MTPA via inland waterways by 2030, the government is banking on river transport as a sustainable alternative that aligns with its broader climate commitments. Besides easing pressure on road infrastructure and cutting down transport-related emissions, the initiative supports the creation of inclusive economic corridors by connecting hinterlands and low-income regions with major ports and cities.Under the expanded inland waterway development plan, new infrastructure is being developed, including permanent and floating terminals, cargo-handling facilities, and regional ship repair centres. These efforts are intended to catalyse a robust multimodal transport ecosystem that integrates ports, railways, and road networks with waterways.
Officials said the push towards inland navigation is being supported through enhanced budgetary allocations and state-level partnerships. The initiative also embodies the ethos of cooperative federalism, with states aligning their development goals with national sustainable logistics strategies.The waterway expansion is also expected to reduce logistical bottlenecks, particularly for bulk cargo like coal, cement, food grains, and fertilisers. Waterways are significantly more energy-efficient than road transport, consuming only a fraction of the fuel per tonne-kilometre, thus contributing directly to India’s net-zero ambitions for 2070.
Stakeholders in green infrastructure and logistics have welcomed the move, viewing it as a long-overdue correction in India’s transport policy, which has historically underutilised its river systems. Experts have also flagged the potential for the project to stimulate job creation in shipping, terminal operations, and vessel manufacturing, particularly in smaller towns.While environmentalists have called for stringent ecological safeguards to prevent riverbed dredging and biodiversity loss, the broader consensus is that if implemented responsibly, India’s inland waterway expansion could serve as a model for climate-resilient freight mobility.
As India seeks to decarbonise its economy and boost regional connectivity, the strategic harnessing of its inland water systems appears to be both an economic imperative and a climate solution whose time has come.
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