Lok Sabha Question No. 5573 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-04
Subject: Status of National Waterways
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Balya Mama Suresh Gopinath Mhatre, Shri Balwant Baswant Wankhade

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5573

ANSWERED ON 04.04.2025

## STATUS OF NATIONAL WATERWAYS

5573.  SHRI BALYA MAMA SURESH GOPINATH MHATRE:

SHRI BALWANT BASWANT WANKHADE:

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

## पȅन ,

पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  water  transport  is  still  not  fully  developed  in  Ganga, Brahmaputra, Yamuna and other rivers;
- (b) if so, the current status of the National Waterways (NWs) along with the number of waterways actually working;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  plans  to  attract private sector  and  foreign investment to develop waterways infrastructure, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is likely to ensure that water transport is made more economical and commercially successful;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) During the year 2023-24, cargo movement of 12.82 million tons and 0.59milliontons    was  recorded  on  Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly  river  system  (National Waterway-1) and Brahmaputra river (National Waterway-2) respectively. To augment capacity of National Waterway (NW)-1 and NW-2, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways has undertaken implementation of comprehensive development projects at  the  cost  of  Rs.  5061 Crore  and  Rs.  862  Crore  respectively.Further,  work  for  augmenting  inland  water transport  infrastructure  on  other  rivers  including  Yamuna  at  Mathura  and  Delhi  have been taken up to tap the full capacity of water transport.
- (b) 29 National Waterways are presently operational for cargo/passenger movement.

(c) National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals ) Regulations, 2025 have been  notified  by  IWAI  on  04.03.2025  under  which  private  sector  can  develop jetties/terminals on the banks of NWs after obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from IWAI.

(d) to (f)IWAI has laid significant emphasis on developing and promoting inland water transport in India, which is economical and environment friendly. The infrastructure and policy  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote  inland  water  transport  (IWT) includes:  (a)  Infrastructure  measures  such  as  fairway  maintenance  works  (river training,  maintenance  dredging,  channel  marking  and  regular  hydrographic  surveys), construction of community jetties, floating terminals, multi-modal terminals, inter-modal terminals  and  navigational  lock  etc.  (b)  Policy  measures  like;  launch  of  Jalvahak Scheme, notification of National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminal) Regulations,  2015,  integration  with  ports,  digitalization,  cargo  aggregation,  shift  of cargo by Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and promotion of river cruise tourism.

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