Lok Sabha Question No. 3300 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-08
Subject: National Waterways in West Bengal
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Jagannath Sarkar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3300

ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025

## NATIONAL WATERWAYS IN WEST BENGAL

3300. SHRIJAGANNATH SARKAR:

## Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

(a) the steps being taken to develop and enhance National Waterways in the State of West Bengal to boost transportation and trade, including the progress on National Waterway 44 (NW-44) and National Waterway 86 (NW-86); in the State, particularly for the said waterways, along with their current status; and

(b) the specific projects initiated to upgrade the infrastructure of National Waterways (c) the manner in which the Union Government is collaborating with the Government

- of West Bengal to ensure the effective implementation of these projects?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) Government declared 17 waterways in the State of West Bengal as National Waterways  (NWs)  under  the  National  Waterways  Act,  2016  (17  of  2016).  Central Government  through  Inland  Waterways  Authority  of  India  (IWAI)  has  undertaken various  developmental  activities  on  NW-1  (the  Ganga-Bhagirathy-Hoohgly  River System)  which  covers  West  Bengal,  Uttar  Pradesh,  Bihar  and  Jharkhand,  NW-44 (Ichamati  River)  and  NW-86  (Rupnarayan  River).  These  include  development  of fairway, terminals, navigation lock and navigation aids for smooth navigation of inland vessels. Details of projects undertaken on the NWs in West Bengal along with status are given in Annex-I.

(c) A Project Oversight Committee (POC) has been constituted with representatives from the  States  of  Uttar  Pradesh,  Bihar,  Jharkhand,  and  West  Bengal  for  projects under implementation on NW-1 under Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) to collaborate with  State  Governments.  Further,  for  holistic  development  of  Inland  Waterways Transport (IWT) across the country,  Inland  Waterways  Development  Council (IWDC)has been constituted under the Chairmanship of the Hon'ble Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways with representation from States/Union Territories.

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3300 for 08.08.2025.

## PROJECTS IN WEST BENGAL

## A. Completed Projects

|   S.No. | Name of Project                                                                                                                                                               | Details                                                        |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Development of Multimodal Terminal (MMT) at Haldia                                                                                                                            | Completed in Q3-2023                                           |
|       2 | Development of New Navigational Lock Gate in Farakka                                                                                                                          | Operational                                                    |
|       3 | Fairway Development                                                                                                                                                           | Farakka - Kahalgaon (LAD based dredging for 5 years completed) |
|       4 | Development of community jetties                                                                                                                                              | Completed at 15 locations                                      |
|       5 | Hydrographic survey (River Ichamati NW-44)                                                                                                                                    | Completed                                                      |
|       6 | Removal of Water Hyacinth from Tentulia to Kalanchi stretch for 23.38 km on Ichamati river in NW-44                                                                           | Completed                                                      |
|       7 | Construction & installation of Gangway & pontoon in River Rupnarayan NW-86                                                                                                    | Completed                                                      |
|       8 | Bank protection works in River Rupnarayan NW- 86                                                                                                                              | 100m length at Kolaghat terminal - Completed                   |
|       9 | Procurement & Supply of 2NM LED lights Solar Operated in the river Rupnarayan NW-86                                                                                           | Completed                                                      |
|      10 | Construction of road from Kolaghat terminal to NH 41 for a length of 3.9 Km (except 01 no RCC culvert) in the river Rupnarayan NW-86                                          | Completed                                                      |
|      11 | Fairway development, 24 hour navigation, Maintenance of Integrated Office Complex(Customs, Immigration-State police and IWAI) at Hemnagar in IBP route of Sunderban Waterways | Completed                                                      |
|      12 | Supply and installation of 04 nos. navigational buoys near Ghoramora island                                                                                                   | Completed                                                      |

## B. Ongoing Projects

|   S.No. | Name of Project                          | Details                          |
|---------|------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
|       1 | Development of community jetties         | Underconstruction at 7 locations |
|       2 | Onshore facilities for community jetties | Under constructionat 8 locations |

|   3 | Renovation/ Modernization of existing Navigational Lock at Farakka   | Under Implementation                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|-----|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   2 | Fairway Maintenance                                                  |  Farakka - Kahalgaon  Farakka - Katwa  Katwa - Tribeni  MMT-Haldia Access Channel                                                                                                                                                        |
|   3 | Works in Ichamati River (NW-44)                                      |  Dredging by departmental Amphibian dredger  Night Navigational facilities from Bansjahari-Mallikpur to Bashirhat Bridge - 7.0 km  Design and Construction of Single Lane Bridge at Swarupnagar, (WB) including Approach Road and RE wall |
|   4 | Works in Rupnarayan River (NW-86)O&M                                 | of navigational lighted posts, snag/ caution marks with retro reflective sticker & project sign board                                                                                                                                        |

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