Centre Targets 76 Operational Waterways By 2027, Inland Cargo To Surge By 156 MTPA

At a consultative committee meeting on inland waterways transport held in Mumbai on Sunday (25 May), Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced that the Centre is targeting the operationalisation of 76 inland waterways by 2027, with cargo volumes projected to increase by 156 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by March 2026.

Highlighting the Centre’s commitment, Sonowal said, “Inland waterways are emerging as the watershed moment in India’s logistics and transport ecosystem.”

He cited key policy moves like the National Waterways Act, 2016, Inland Vessels Act, 2021, and ongoing schemes such as Jal Marg Vikas, Arth Ganga, and Jal Samriddhi.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency under the Ministry, outlined the expansion of the waterway network footprint from 11 states in FY 2024 to 23 states and 4 Union Territories by 2027.

Ten thousand kilometres of longitudinal survey are currently being conducted each month to assess navigability.

The Regional Waterways Grid aims to link Varanasi to Dibrugarh via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route, with projected cargo potential of 32.2 MMTPA by 2033. On NW-1 (Ganga), capacity upgrades are underway for 1,500–2,000 DWT vessels and key cargo hubs like Varanasi and Haldia.

In the Northeast, a Rs 5,000 crore development roadmap is being implemented over five years, with infrastructure such as permanent and floating terminals on NW-2 (Brahmaputra), ship repair facilities, and access roads.

“In line with the Harit Nauka Guidelines, IWAI is committed to green and sustainable transport solutions,” Sonowal added, citing the upcoming electric catamarans and hydrogen-fuel vessels.

Minister of State Shantanu Thakur highlighted growing river cruise tourism: “Special efforts are underway to advance river cruise tourism… boosting luxury river cruises on the Ganga and Brahmaputra.”

Since 2013-14, operational river cruise circuits have risen from 3 to 15 across 13 National Waterways, with 51 more identified.

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