Lok Sabha Question No. 4954 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-01
Subject: Promotion of Inland Water Transport
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Vijayakumar (alias) Vijay Vasanth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4954

ANSWERED ON 01IO4I2O22

## PROMOTION OF INLAND WATER TRANSPORT

4954. SHRr VTJAYAKUMAR  (ALTAS) VtJAy VASANTH:

## Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS  be pleased  to state: qrq,  frdqfonE{efuqoqFf  trfi

- (b) whether any steps have been taken by the Government  to improve the existing watenrvays  to promote  lnland Water Transport(lWT)  in the country;
- (a) the details of passenger  and cargo traffic handled/proposed to be handled through all the existing watenruays  in the country, State/UT-wise;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS (sHRr SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a) The details of cargo traffic movement through operational  national watenruays collected from State Government  lnland Water Transport  (lWT) Departments/  Maritime Boards by lnland Watenrruays Authority of lndia (lWAl)  was recorded as 83.61 Million Metric  Tonne (MMT) during FY- 2020-21 (Annex  -  1.). A quantity  of 96.31 MMT cargo traffic movement  has been recorded  fll 28.02.2022 during FY-2021-22  (A^nnex-2).  As per Maritime lndia Vision (MlV) 2030 document, cargo movement on National Waterways  is  targeted as 200 MMT by 2030. However, the data pertaining to movement  of passengers on the existing waterurrays is not maintained by lWAl.
- (b) & (c) Steps taken by the Government to improve the existing waterways  to promote lnland Water Transport(lWT)  in the country are detailed at Annex-3.
- (d) Does not arise in view of the reply above.

## statement of caroo/Traffic movement  for the  year  2020-21:

| State/UT                          | National Waterways                                              | Apr-2020 to Mar-2021 (Metric Tonnes)   |
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| U.P., Bihar, Jharkhand, W. Benqal | NW-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghty River System (Haldia-Allahabad)) | 92,06,994                              |
| Assam                             | NW-2 (Brahmaputra River (Dhubri-sadiya))                        | 3,07,191                               |
| Kerala                            | NW-3 (West Coast Canal)                                         | 7,33,977                               |
| A. P.                             | NW-4 (Krishna Godavari River Systems)                           | 68,31,924                              |
|                                   | Sub Total (National Waterways 1-4)                              | 1,70,79,976                            |
| Maharashtra                       | NW-10 (Amba River)                                              | 1,76,95,737                            |
| Maharashtra                       | NW-83 (Rajpuri Creek)                                           | 2,05,567                               |
| Maharashtra                       | NW-85 (Revadanda Creek-Kundalika River System)                  | 10,93,701                              |
| Maharashtra                       | NW-g1 (Shastri River - Jaigad Creek System)                     | 92,34,993                              |
| Maharashtra                       | TOTAL                                                           | 2,82,09,999                            |
| Goa                               | NW-68 (Mandovi River)                                           | 39,96,431                              |
| Goa                               | NW-l 11 (Zuari River)                                           | 44,64,662                              |
| Goa                               | TOTAL                                                           | 84,61,093                              |
| Gujarat                           | NW-73 (Narmada River)                                           | 82.311                                 |
| Gujarat                           | NW-100 (Tapi River)                                             | 2,56,29,554                            |
| Gujarat                           | TOTAL                                                           | 2.57.11.865                            |
| Assam                             | NW-'16 (Barak River)                                            | 1,032                                  |
| W. Benqal                         | NW-44 (lchamati River)                                          | 2,80,353                               |
| Bihar                             | NW-94 (Sone River)                                              | 0                                      |
| W. Benqal                         | NW-97 (Sunderbans Waterway)                                     | 38,61,439                              |
| W. Benqal                         | NW-86 (Rupnarayan River)                                        | 1,443                                  |
|                                   | Grand Total Metric Tonnes                                       | 8,36,07,199                            |
|                                   | Grand Total Million Metric Tonnes                               | 83.61                                  |

## Annex-1

Annex-2

## Statement of Carqo/Traffic movement from Apr 2021 till Feb 2022

| State/UT                          | National Waterways                                                                            | Apr-2021 to Feb-2022 (Metric Tonnes)   |
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| U.P., Bihar, Jharkhand, W. Benqal | NW-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Haldia-Allahabad))                               | 90,69,963                              |
| Assam                             | NW-2 (Brahmaputra River (Dhubri-Sadiya))                                                      | 3,66,149                               |
| Kerala                            | NW-3 (West Coast Canal)                                                                       | 15,39,367                              |
| A. P.                             | NW-4 (Krishna Godavari River Svstems)                                                         | 1,04,24,788                            |
| Odisha                            | NW-s (East Coast Canal And Matai River/Brahmani- Kharsua-Dhamra Rivers/Mahanadi Delta Rivers) | 14,538                                 |
|                                   | Sub Tota! (National Waterwavs 1-5)                                                            | 2,14,14,805                            |
| Maharashtra                       | NW-10 (Amba River                                                                             | 1 ,77,05,018                           |
| Maharashtra                       | NW-83 (Raipuri Creek)                                                                         | 1,70,400                               |
| Maharashtra                       | NW-85 (Revadanda Creek-Kundalika River Svstem)                                                | 6,07,473                               |
| Maharashtra                       | NW-91 (Shastri River - Jaigad Creek System)                                                   | 1,99,19J28                             |
|                                   | TOTAL Maharashtra Waterwavs                                                                   | 3,84,02,019                            |
| Goa                               | NW-68 (Mandovi Rive                                                                           | 19,30,541                              |
| Goa                               | NW-1 11 (Zuari River)                                                                         | 17,84,562                              |
| Goa                               | TOTAL Goa Waterwavs                                                                           | 37, 1 5,1 03                           |
| Gujarat                           | NW-73 (Narmada River                                                                          | 36,399                                 |
| Gujarat                           | NW-100 (Tapi River)                                                                           | 2,65,41,098                            |
| Gujarat                           | TOTAL Guiarat Waterwavs                                                                       | 2.65.77.497                            |
| Assam                             | NW-16 (Barak River)                                                                           | 4,981                                  |
| W. Benqal                         | NW-44 (lchamati Rive0                                                                         | 7,14,760                               |
| Bihar                             | NW-94 (Sone River)                                                                            | 0                                      |
| W. Benoal                         | NW-97 (Su nderbans Watenruav)                                                                 | 54,69,785                              |
| Odisha                            | NW-64 (Mahanadi River)                                                                        | 14,538                                 |
| W. Benqal                         | NW-86 (Rupnaravan River)                                                                      | 616                                    |
|                                   | Grand Total Metric Tonnes (MT)                                                                | 9.63.14.104                            |
|                                   | Grand Total Million Metric Tonnes (MMT)                                                       | 96.31                                  |

## 1. INITIATIVES FOR GROWTH OF TRAFFIC ON NATIONAL  WATERWAYS:

- i. Fairway development works: Fainruay  development works to ensure Least Available Depth (LAD) of 3.0 meter in Haldia-Barh,2.5  meter in Barh-Ghazipur and 2.2 meter in Ghazipur-Varanasi stretches on NW-1 are in progress  under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP)  which has been undertaken  by lWAl with technical and financial assistance from World Bank. Similarly, to improve the connectivity  between  NW-1 and NW-2/NW-'l6  via the lndo Bangladesh protocol route, the critical and shallow stretches between Sirajganj and Daikhowa on protocol route No1 & 2 and Ashuganj and Zakiganj on protocol  rote no 3 &4 in Bangladesh are being jointly  developed  by lndia and Bangladesh  for round the year navlgability  (with targeted LAD of 2.5 mtrs). Similarly, fainruay development works are being carried out on NW-97 in Sunderbans  to allow smooth navigation of vessels  on the lndo-Bangladesh  Protocol Route. Comprehensive development of National  Watenruay-2  has been undertaken  by lWAl under a  project approved by the Government  at the cost of Rs. 461 Cr.. The project includes maintenance  dredging besides construction  of a Multi Modal Terminal  at Jogighopa, alternative road connectivity  to Pandu Port, ship repair facility at  pandu,  fainvay development, O&M of navigational  aids, O&M of fixed & floating terminals, O&M of vessels, consultancy trailing, maintenance of e-portal etc.
- ii. Development  of New Nationat Waterways-lWAl  has identified 26 new NWs through techno-economic  feasibility studies for undertaking technical interventions  to make the watenvays navigable for transportation purpose.
- iii. Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax  Service Commenced in Various Nationat  Waterways- The Operation of Ro-Ro / Ro-Pax vessels inaugurated by Hon'ble Prime Minster during February 2021 for the following routes:
- iv. Revision  of Levy & Collection  of Fees: Taking ahead the vision of the Government of lndia to promote lnland Watenruays as a supplementary mode of transport, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping  and Watenrvays  has waived  watenrvay user charges initially for a period  of three years.

| Vessel Name                              | Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax Service between            | Date of lnauguration by Hon'ble Prime Minister   |
|------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| MV Rani Gaidinliu & MV Sachin Dev Barman | Neamati and Kamalabari(Majuli)          | 18.O2.2021                                       |
| MV JFR Jacob                             | Guwahati and North Guwahati             | 18.02.2021                                       |
| MV Bob Khathing                          | Dhubri and Fakirganj (UiS Hatsingimari) | 18.02.2021                                       |
| MV Adi Shankara &                        | Wellingdon lsland and Bolghaty          | 14.02.2021                                       |

| MV         |
|------------|
| C.V. Raman |

## 2. DIGITAL SOLUTIONS  FOR EASE.OF.DOING  BUSINESS:

- .  CAR-D (Cargo Data) Portal: CAR-D is a web based portal for collection & compilation, analysis and dissemination of all cargo and cruise movement data of National Wateruvays to the stakeholders.
- o PANI (Portal for Asset & Navigation lnformation): PANI is an integrated solution brining  river navigation  and infrastructure  information  on a single platform. lt provides detailed  information  of various  features  of National Watenarays and the assets  such as fainruay, infrastructure facilities,  cross-river structures, connectivity  at  jetties,  emergency services  for facilitating transportation  of cargo.

## 3. Enhanced regional trade using lWT mode:

- a. Addition of new Ports of Call and routes in lndia and Bangladesh under PIWT&T: With 7 new ports of call in addition to existing 6 on each side along with addition/ extension of 2 watenruay  routes in addition to existing 8 routes under PIWT&T between lndia and Bangladesh, the accessibility  of IWT mode for trade between lndia and Bangladesh is expected to increase and result in growth of traffic on NWs.
- b. Trade between Bhutan and Bangladesh: Stone exporters from Bhutan have identified  lnland watenruays as an alternate  mode of transportation  considering the benefits associated with waterways  mode such as lower transportation cost, larger shipment size compared to road, avoiding congestion on land routes etc. The first movement  under supervision of lWAl was successfully  executed in July 2019. This trade using the IWT mode is expected to continue  and reach a significant  scale in the coming years.
4. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)  for facilitating the Stakeholders to use lnland Water Transport and access the various information  related to National Waterways: The list of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for various  National Watenruays which are available at lWAl website is as given below:

- i. Standard  operating  procedures  (Sop) of the Agreement  on the use of chattogram and Mongla Ports for movement of goods to and from lndia between the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Government of Republic of lndia.
- ii. standard operating  Procedures (sop) of MoU on  passenger  and cruise Services  on the coastal and Protocol  Route  between  the Government  of the  people,s  Republic of Bangladesh and the Government of Republic  of lndia.
- iii. Standard  operating  Procedures (sop)  for the MoU on use of lnland waterways for Transportation  of Bilateral  rrade and rransit cargoes  between  the Government of People's Republic of Bangradesh  and the Government  of Repubric of rndia.
- iv. Standard operating  Procedures (Sop)  for the Movement of Vessels on  protocol  on lnland  water Transit and rrade (prwr&T) to contain the spread of coVrD19.
- v. standard operating Procedures  (Sop) and check List for Ro-Ro  / Ro-pax vessel operations on National  Waterways.
- vi. Standard Operating  procedures  (SOp) for Car-D  portal.
5. stakeholder consultations:  lwAl carried out stakeholder  consultations  at six different locations (Kolkata,  Kochi, Mumbai,  patna,  Goa and Dhaka) in Fy-20 and 9 conference-cum-webinars  during Fy-21.  These interactions  helped  in  promoting wateMays  as a mode of transportation  and understanding  expectations  and feedback of stakeholders.  lwAl is undertaking targeted  initiatives to address  the expectation and feedback received  to further enhance traffic on NWs.