Lok Sabha Question No. 1428 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-28
Subject: National Waterways Project
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1428

ANSWERED ON 28.07.2023

## NATIONAL WATERWAYS PROJECT

1428.SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR:

Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:

## पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

- (a) the current status of the National Waterways Project;
- (b) whether any difficulties are being faced in completion of the said project;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  of  the  efforts  being  made  by  Government  to  remove  these difficulties;
- (d) the total number of routes identified under the said project in Karnataka; and
- (e) the number of waterways made functional out of the identified routes?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) For  development  of  Inland  Water  Transport  (IWT)  in  the  country,  111 waterways  (including  5  existing  and  106  new)  spread  over  24  States  have  been declared  National Waterways (NWs) under the  National Waterways Act, 2016. On the  basis  of  outcome  of  techno-economic  feasibility  study  and  Detailed  Project Report (DPR) of these NWs action plan has been formulated for 26 NWs which were found viable for cargo and passenger movement. At present, development initiatives have been taken up in the 20 NWs. The detail is at Annexure-I.
- (b) Major challenges for development of National Waterways include the varying and limited depths during lean season due to the excessive upstream withdrawal/utilization of water resulting in meandering and braiding of alluvial rivers, erosion of their banks causing excessive siltation, lack of cargo earmarked for IWT, non-mechanized navigation lock systems, insufficient unloading facility at terminals, horizontal  and  vertical  clearance  issues  due  to  cross  structures,  first  &  last  mile

connectivity,  lack  of  vessel  financing  options  and  apprehension  of  logistics  and shipping  market  to  shift  in  absence  of  policy  support  hinder  the  use  of  IWT  by shippers.

- (c) Efforts  made  to  overcome  these  challenges  and  to  grow  cargo  movement through Inland Water Transport (IWT) are detailed at Annexure.-2.
- (d) &(e) There are 9 NWs exclusively in Karnataka & 3 inter-State NWs which have been declared under National Waterways Act, 2016. After feasibility/DPR studies of all these NWs,  Kali river (NW-52),  Sharavati  river  (NW-90)  in  Karnataka  & Tungabhadra  river  (NW-104)  in  Karnataka,  A.P.  &  Telangana  have  been  found feasible for tourism & ferry services. Govt. has provided an amount of INR 2.7 crore for development of jetty infrastructure in Kali river (NW-52) through the State Govt.

## Annexure.-1

## LIST OF 26 NATIONAL WATERWAYS (NWs) PROJECTS FOR DEVELOPMENT

|   Sl. No. | NW                                       | Details of Waterways                                                                     | Length (Km)   | STATES                                        | Status                                                                      |
|-----------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | NW 1                                     | Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Haldia - Allahabad)                               | 1620          | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal | Development taken up through Jal Marg Vikas Project                         |
|         2 | NW 2 Brahmaputra River (Dhubri - Sadiya) | NW 2 Brahmaputra River (Dhubri - Sadiya)                                                 | 891           | Assam                                         | Development taken up as per approved SFC for FY 2020-21 to 2024-25          |
|         3 | NW 16                                    | Barak River (Lakhipur -Tuker Gram)                                                       | 121           | Assam                                         | Development taken up as per approved SFC for FY 2020-21 to 2024-25          |
|         4 | NW 3                                     | West Coast Canal (Kottapuram - Kollam), Champakara and Udyogmandal Canals                | 205           | Kerala Andhra                                 | Mostly Operational Waterways and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|         5 | NW 4                                     | Krishna River (Vijayawada - Muktyala)                                                    | 82            | Pradesh                                       | Mostly Operational Waterways and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|         6 | NW                                       | 5 Dhamra-Paradip via Mangalagadi to Pankopal                                             | 233           | Odisha                                        | Mostly Operational Waterways and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|         7 | NW 8                                     | Alappuzha- Changanassery Canal                                                           | 29            | Kerala                                        | Mostly Operational Waterways and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|         8 | NW                                       | 9 Alappuzha - Kottayam - Athirampuzha Canal                                              | 40            | Kerala (Alternate route: 11.5km)              | Mostly Operational Waterways and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|         9 | NW 27                                    | Cumberjua River (Cortalim-Ferry to Sao MartiasVidhanParisad)                             | 17            | Goa                                           | Mostly Operational Waterways and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|        10 | NW 68                                    | Mandovi River (Usgoan bridge to Arabian Sea)                                             | 41            | Goa                                           | Mostly Operational Waterways and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|        11 | NW 111                                   | Zuari River (Sanvorden bridge to Marmugao Port)                                          | 50            | Goa                                           | Mostly Operational Waterways and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|        12 | NW 86                                    | Rupnarayan River (PratapPur to Geonkhali)                                                | 72            | West Bengal                                   | Mostly Operational Waterways and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|        13 | NW 97                                    | Sunderbans Waterway (Namkhana to AtharaBankiKhal)                                        | 172           | West Bengal                                   | Mostly Operational Waterways and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|        14 | NW 40                                    | Ghagra River (Faizabad to ManjhiGhat)                                                    | 345           | Bihar & U.P.                                  | Mostly Operational Waterways and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|        15 | NW 52                                    | Kali River (Kodasalli Dam to Sadashivgad Bridge, Arabian Sea)                            | 53            | Karnataka                                     | Mostly Operational Waterways and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|        16 | NW 44                                    | Ichamati River (Bridge at Gobra to Bansjhari near Bangladesh Border)                     | 63            | West Bengal                                   | Mostly Operational Waterways and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|        17 | NW 57                                    | Kopili River (BanthaiGaonTinali Bus Stop to Chandrapur No.2 confluence with Brahmaputra) | 50            | Assam                                         | Mostly Operational Waterways and development and maintenance work taken up. |
|        18 | NW                                       | Dhansiri River (Morongi T.E. village110                                                  |               | Assam                                         | Mostly Operational Waterways and development and maintenance work taken up. |

|    | 31     | Bridge to Numaligarh)                                                                            |                       |                                                       |
|----|--------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| 19 | NW 10  | Amba River (Arabian Sea, Dharamtaar Creek to Nagothane ST Stand) 45                              | Maharashtra           |                                                       |
| 20 | NW 28  | Dabhol Creek Vasisti River (Arabian Sea at Dabhol to Bridge at Pedhe) 45                         | Maharashtra           |                                                       |
| 21 | NW 25  | Chapora River (Bridge near Maneri village to Morjim, Arabian Sea) 25                             | Goa                   | Mostly Operational Waterways for development by 2030. |
| 22 | NW 37  | Gandak River (Bhaisalotal Barrage to Hazipur) 296                                                | Bihar & U.P.          | Mostly Operational Waterways for development by 2030. |
| 23 | NW 73  | Narmada River (Pandhariya to Gulf of Khambhat) 226                                               | Maharashtra & Gujarat | Mostly Operational Waterways for development by 2030. |
| 24 | NW 85  | Revadanda Creek - Kundalika River System (Arabian Sea at Revadanda to Bridge near Roha Nagar) 31 | Maharashtra           | Mostly Operational Waterways for development by 2030. |
| 25 | NW 94  | Sone River (Sone Barrage, Dehri to Confluence with the Ganga) 141                                | Bihar                 | Mostly Operational Waterways for development by 2030. |
| 26 | NW 100 | Tapi River (Hatnur Dam to Gulf of Khambhat) 436                                                  | Maharashtra & Gujarat | Mostly Operational Waterways for development by 2030. |

## STEPS TAKEN FOR GROWTH OF CARGO TRANSPORTATION ON WATERWAYS

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

- i.   Fairway development works: Fairway development works to ensure LeastAvailable  Depth  (LAD)  of  3.0  meter  in  Haldia-Barh,  2.5  meter  in  BarhGhazipur and2.2 meter in Ghazipur-Varanasi stretches on NW-1 have been taken up under the JalMarg Vikas Project (JMVP) which has been undertaken by IWAI with technical and financial assistance from World Bank. Similarly, to improve the connectivity between  NW-1 and NW-2/NW-16 via the Indo Bangladesh protocol route,  thecritical  and  shallow  stretches  between  Sirajganj  and  Daikhowa  on protocol  routeNo1  &  2  and  Ashuganj  and  Zakiganj  on  protocol  rote  no  3  &4  in Bangladesh  arebeing  jointly  developed  by  India  and  Bangladesh  for  round  the year  navigability(with  targeted  LAD  of  2.5  mtrs).  Similarly,  fairway  development works have been taken up on NW-97 in Sunderbans to allow smooth navigation of vessels on theIndo-Bangladesh Protocol Route.
- ii.  Development  of  New  National  Waterways:  IWAI  has  identified  26  new  NWs through techno-economic feasibility studies forundertaking technical interventions to make the waterways navigable fortransportation purpose.
- iii. Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax Service Commenced  in  Various National Waterways: The Operation of Ro-Ro / Ro-Pax vessels inaugurated by Hon'ble Prime Minsterduring February 2021 for the following routes:
- iv. Revision of Levy & Collection of Fees:Taking ahead the vision of the Government of India to promote Inland Waterways as a supplementary mode of transport, the Ministry  of  Ports,  Shipping  and  Waterways  has  considered  waiver  of  waterway user charges initially for a period of three years.

| Vessel Name                             | Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax Services between         | Date of Inaugurationby Hon'ble PrimeMinister   |
|-----------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| MV Rani Gaidinliu& MV SachinDeve Barman | Neamati and Kamalabari (Majuli)       | 18.02.2021                                     |
| MV JFR Jacob                            | Guwahati and North Guwahati           | 18.02.2021                                     |
| MV Bob Khathing                         | Dhubri and Fakirganj (U/SHatsingimar) | 18.02.2021                                     |
| MV AdiShankara& MV C.V. Raman           | Wellingdon Island and Bolghaty        | 14.02.2021                                     |

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

Following digital solution for ease of doing business has been introduced by IWAI:-

- CAR-D (Cargo Data) Portal
- PANI (Portal for Asset & Navigation Information)

## 3. ENHANCED REGIONAL TRADE USING IWT MODE

- a.   Addition of new Ports of Call and routes in India 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  waterway routes  in  addition  to  existing  8 routes  under  PIWT&T between India and Bangladesh, the accessibility of IWT mode for trade between India 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  Inland  waterways 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.
4.   STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOPS) FOR FACILITATING THE STAKEHOLDERS  TO  USE  INLAND  WATER  TRANSPORT  AND  ACCESS THE VARIOUS INFORMATION RELATED TO NATIONAL WATERWAYS

The list of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for various National Waterways is available at IWAI website.

## 5.   STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS

IWAI  carried  out  stakeholder  consultations  at  sixdifferent  locations  (Kolkata, Kochi,  Mumbai, Patna,  Goa and Dhaka) in FY-20,  9nos. during FY-21  and 06 nos.conference-cum-webinars in FY22 for cargopromotion.

-  PM GatiShakti Multimodal Waterway Connectivity Summit held  in Varanasi from 11 th -12 th November 2022.
-  Flagging  off  of  world's  longest  river  cruise  and  waterways  development projects inaugurated and foundation stone was laid online by Hon'ble Prime Minister in the presence of Hon'ble Minister PSW, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on 1 3th January 2023 at Varanasi.

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