Lok Sabha Question No. 692 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-26
Subject: Survey for Waterways Transport
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar

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

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-692

ANSWERED ON - 26.07.2024

## SURVEY FOR WATERWAYS TRANSPORT

## 692. SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:

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

- (a) the  details  of  the  waterways  transport  in  various  States  of  the  country,  State- wise including Maharashtra;

- (b) the  steps  being  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  develop inland waterways as an alternate means of transportation;

- (c) whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  any  proposal  to  start  waterways transport from Mumbai to Goa- Alibaug-Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg and to construct ports at these places;

- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

- (e) whether the Government has any proposal to conduct any survey in this regard; and

- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The details of the National Waterways on which cargo/passenger transport is taking place in various states of the country, including Maharashtra is at Annexure-1.
- (b)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,  24  NWs  are  operational  and  cargo/passenger movement  is  happening  on  these  NWS.  Action plan has been  formulated for development of more viable NWs based upon the outcome of study reports and DPR.

Measures taken to promote movement of cargo through NWs include interaction with cargo operators through  stakeholders conferences, commencement of Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax Services  in  Various  National  Waterways,  Revision  of  Levy  &  Collection  of  Fees  of waterways user  charges,  Enhanced  regional  trade  with  Bangladesh  using  IWT  mode and implementation of Arth Ganga programme developed on an approach based on the principles on the sustainable development model to energize economic activities along the riverbank through creation of floating community jetties on the Ganga (NW-1) and other NWs in the country.

(c)& (d) Yes. Under the Sagarmala programme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways,  the  government  has  already  operationalised  waterways  transport  from Mumbai to Mandwa in Alibaug, and between Malvan to Sindhudurg fort. Further, it is contemplated to start services for Rewas, Kashid and Janjira in Alibaug region, Veldur, and  AmbadaveShigwan in  Ratnagiri  region,  Underi,  Padmadurg,  and  Suvarnadurg  in the  Raigad  and  Sindhudurg  region.  The  total  cost  of  projects  at  these  locations  is around Rs. 460 Cr.

(e)  &  (f)  Requisite  surveys  are  conducted  by  the  respective  State  Government  and if required a proposal is submitted to the Ministry for funding under Sagarmala Scheme.

## NATIONAL WATERWAYS ON WHICH CARGO/PASSENGER TRANSPORT IS TAKING PLACE

| National Waterways (NW) with States                                                                     |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| NW-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Haldia-Allahabad)) in U.P., Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal |
| NW-2 (Brahmaputra River (Dhubri-Sadiya)) in Assam                                                       |
| NW-3 (West Coast Canal) in Kerala                                                                       |
| NW-4 (Krishna Godavari River Systems) in Andhra Pradesh                                                 |
| NW-5 (East Coast Canal And Matai River/Brahmani-Kharsua-Dhamra Rivers/Mahanadi Delta Rivers) in Odisha  |
| NW-8 (Alappuzha-Changanassery Canal) in Kerala                                                          |
| NW-9 (Alappuzha-Kottayam Athirampuzha Canal) in Kerala                                                  |
| NW-14 (Baitarni River) in Odisha                                                                        |
| NW-16 (Barak River) in Assam                                                                            |
| NW-23 (BudhaBalanga) in Odisha                                                                          |
| NW-31 (Dhansiri/Chathe) in Assam                                                                        |
| NW-44 (Ichamati River) in West Bengal                                                                   |
| NW-64 (Mahanadi River) in Odisha                                                                        |
| NW-86 (Rupnarayan River) in West Bengal                                                                 |
| NW-94 (Sone River) in Bihar                                                                             |
| NW-97 (Sunderbans Waterway) in West Bengal                                                              |
| Maharashtra Waterways                                                                                   |
| NW-10 (Amba River)                                                                                      |
| NW-83 (Rajpuri Creek)                                                                                   |
| NW-85 (Revadanda Creek-Kundalika River System)                                                          |
| NW-91 (Shastri River - Jaigad Creek System)                                                             |
| Goa Waterways                                                                                           |
| NW-68 (Mandovi River)                                                                                   |
| NW-111 (Zuari River)                                                                                    |
| Gujarat Waterways                                                                                       |
| NW-73 (Narmada River)                                                                                   |
| NW-100 (Tapi River)                                                                                     |

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