Lok Sabha Question No. 1144 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-25
Subject: Inland Water Transport Development in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Shashank Mani

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1144

ANSWERED ON 25.07.2025

## INLAND WATER TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT IN UTTAR PRADESH

1144. SHRI SHASHANK MANI:

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

## पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

- (a) whether the Government has undertaken any specific projects in Uttar Pradesh under the Sagarmala Programme to enhance port infrastructure and connectivity for trade, if so, the details thereof, including their status and expected economic impact;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  addressing  any  challenges  related  to  inland  water transport  development  along  major  rivers  in  Uttar  Pradesh  particularly  regarding infrastructure navigation and sustainability, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government has plans to promote regional connectivity and logistics hubs in  these  districts  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  including  timelines,  investments  and expected benefits for the local population, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The details of sanctioned projects in Uttar Pradesh under Inland Water Transport (IWT) development by IWAI with status & economic impact are given at Annexure-1. The economic impact includes creation of supplementary mode of transport, reduced logistic cost, boost river cruise tourism and lower carbon emission.
- (b) The  major  challenge  faced  in  Inland  Water  Transport  relates  to  availability  of fairway  and  terminal  infrastructure,  which  has  been  addressed  by  the  Government through dredging/bandalling and construction of jetties.
- (c) IWAI  has  acquired  75  acres  of  land  in  Chandauli  district  of  Uttar  Pradesh  for development of a logistics hub i.e. freight village, adjacent to the Varanasi multi-modal terminal. The freight village offers numerous benefits including employment generation in  logistics  and  allied  sectors,  support  for  local  MSMEs  and  farmers  through  better storage and transport, reduced city road congestion.

## IWT PROJECTS IN UTTAR PRADESH

## Projects completed in Uttar Pradesh

| Sl. No.   | Name of Sub Project                                                                              |   Cost (Rs. Cr.) |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|
| 1.        | Development of Multimodal Terminal at Varanasi                                                   |           182.33 |
| 2.        | Development of 11 Community Jetties in Varanasi, Chandauli, Ghazipur and Ballia in Uttar Pradesh |            17    |
| 3         | 2 Jetties Installed at Ayodhya, UP on NW-40 (Ghaghara River)                                     |             4    |
| 4         | 2 Electric Catamarans deployed at Varanasi and Ayodhya                                           |            25.6  |
| 5         | 1 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vessel at Varanasi                                                          |            22.62 |
|           | Sub Total                                                                                        |           251.55 |

## Projects on-going in Uttar Pradesh

|   Sl. No. | Name of Sub Project                                                                                                                    |   Cost (Rs. Cr.) |
|-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|
|         1 | Fairway Development Majhauwa - Ghazipur                                                                                                |            78.64 |
|         2 | Development of 4 Nos Steel Community Jetties in Ballia and Ghazipur, UP                                                                |             7.82 |
|         3 | Fairway Development from Ghazipur to Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh                                                                           |           102.98 |
|         4 | Development of IWT Jetties (6-installed; 2-work in progress) at Mathura in Yamuna                                                      |            12    |
|         5 | Ayodhya& Mathura Projects - Quantity based dredging between Guptarghat (NW-40) and Nayaghat&Jugal Kishore ghat -Gokul Barrage (NW-110) |             8.45 |
|         6 | Development of River Cruise Terminal at Varanasi                                                                                       |           200    |
|         7 | Development of Regional Centre of Excellence at Varanasi                                                                               |           150    |
|         8 | Development of Ship Repair facility                                                                                                    |            50    |

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## Annexure-1