Lok Sabha Question No. 4619 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-28
Subject: Rejuvenation of Inland Waterways
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Smt. Shambhavi, Shri Rajesh Verma, Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4619

ANSWERED ON 28.03.2025

## REJUVENATION OF INLAND WATERWAYS

4619. SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI RAJESH VERMA:

SMT. SHAMBHAVI:

SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE:

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

- (a) whether the Government has invested over Rs. 6,000 crores for the rejuvenation of inland  waterways  since  2014  and  if  so,  the  details  of  the  projects  funded  under  this initiative;
- (b) whether the number of National Waterways has increased from 5 to 111 under the current  administration  and  if  so,  the  manner  in  which  this  expansion  has  impacted cargo movement and passenger connectivity;
- (c) whether the Government has set targets for cargo movement via inland waterways, specifically aiming for 200 million MT by 2030 and 500 million MT by 2047 and if so, the strategies that are being implemented to achieve these goals;
- (d) whether infrastructure projects in the country including Maharashtra are expected to enhance trade and connectivity and if so, the details of the progress made on these projects; and
- (e)  whether  the  revitalization  of  inland  waterways  is  anticipated  to  contribute  to  ecotourism and sustainable transportation in India?

## ANSWER

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

(a) Yes. An amount of Rs. 6434 cr. has been invested by the Government from 201415  to  2023-24  for  development  of  National  Waterways  (NWs)  in  the  country.  The details of the projects funded are given at Annexure-1.

(b) Yes. For development of Inland Water Transport (IWT) in the country, 111 National Waterways were declared vide National Waterways Act, 2016. The cargo movement on National Waterways has increased from 18 million ton per annum (MTPA) in 201314 to 133 MTPA in 2023-24 and passenger movement has reached to 1.61 Crores in 2023-24.

(c) Yes. The strategies to achieve the goals of 200 million MT by 2030 and 500 million MT by 2047 in terms of Policy Measures are detailed at Annexure-2.

(d) Yes.  The  inland  water  transport  infrastructure  development  projects  on  National Waterways across India including Maharashtra aims to enhance trade and connectivity. The details of infrastructure facilities developed are at Annexure-3 .

(e) Yes. The inland water transport is economical, safe and environment friendly mode of transportation. Revitalization of inland waterways is anticipated to contribute to ecotourism through River Cruises/House Boats and sustainable transportation.

## Annexure-1

| Sl.    | Name of Project                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|--------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| A      | Ongoing sanctioned NWs projects -                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 1      | Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP-I & II) from Varanasi-Haldia stretch on NW-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System) in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal                                                            |
| 2      | Comprehensive Development of NW-2 (River brahmaputra from B'desh Border -Dhubri to Sadiya) in Assam                                                                                                                           |
| 3      | Comprehensive Development of NW-16 (River Barak from Lakhipur to Tuker Gram) in Assam and Indian Portion of IndoBangladesh Route in Assam                                                                                     |
| B.     | NWs projects sanctioned since 3 years                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| 4      | Development of Approach Road from Pandu Port Terminal to NH27 on NW-2                                                                                                                                                         |
| 5      | Development of Ship Repair Facility at Pandu, Guwahati(Assam) on NW-2                                                                                                                                                         |
| 6      | Development of 23 NW's (Phase1) (** 3 existing & 13 new NW's) -- Development of 20 NWs (NW-3, 4, 5 & 17 new NWs) in the States of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Goa, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra & Assam |
| (i)    | NW-3-West Coast Canal (Kottapuram - Kollam), Champakara and Udyogmandal Canals in Kerala                                                                                                                                      |
| (ii)   | Part of NW-4- Krishna River (Vijayawada - Muktyala) in Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                                                                         |
| (iii)  | NW-5- Dhamra-Paradip via Mangalagadi to Pankopal of river Brahmani in Odisha                                                                                                                                                  |
| (iv)   | NW-8- Alappuzha-Changanassery Canal in Kerala                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| (v)    | NW-9- Alappuzha-Athirampuza Canal in Kerala                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| (vi)   | NW-27-Cumberjua River in Goa                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| (vii)  | NW-68- Mandovi River in Goa                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| (viii) | NW-111- Zuari River in Goa                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| (ix)   | NW-86- River Rupnarayan in West Bengal                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| (x)    | NW-97- Sundarbans Waterways in West Bengal                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| (xi)   | NW-40- Ghaghra River in U.P. & Bihar                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| (xii)  | NW-44- Ichamati River in West Bengal                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| (xiii) | NW-10- Amba River in Maharashtra                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| (xiv)  | NW-28-Dabhol Creek Vashisthi River in Maharashtra                                                                                                                                                                             |

| (xv)   | NW-57- Kopili River in Assam                                                  |
|--------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (xvi)  | NW-31- Dhansiri River in Assam                                                |
| (xvii) | NW-73- Pontoons in River narmada in Gujarat                                   |
|        | (xviii)NW-73 (the Narmada) & NW-100 (the Tapi) - EIA/EMP Study in Gujarat NWs |
| (xix)  | NW-110 (the Yamuna)- Pontoons in Mathura                                      |
| (xx)   | NW-37 (the Gandak)- Pontoons in Battiah in Bihar                              |

## Policy Measures:

· A scheme for providing 35% incentive to promote the utilization of inland waterways transport  sector  by  cargo  owners  and  for  establishing scheduled  service  for cargo movement on NW-1 and NW-2 and NW-16 via Indo Bangladesh Protocol has been approved by the Government. This scheme is expected to divert 800 million tonne Km cargo on IWT mode, which is nearly 17% of the current cargo of 4700 million tonne Km on NWs. The scheme is at a cost of less than 100 Crore for three years and can be scaled up or  modified  depending on the  success  of  the  scheme.  The scheme also aims to start a scheduled waterway cargo service between Kolkata and Varanasi/Pandu  using  IWAI  vessels  through  Shipping  Corporation  of  India  for demonstration effect and to increase trust of cargo movers/owners in the waterway movement.

·  An  extension  of  the  tonnage  tax  scheme  to  inland  vessels  registered  under  the Indian Vessels Act, 2021 is announced during the budget presented on 01.02.2025. Inland vessels operating on  National  Waterways,  rivers, and  canals, will  be benefited.  This  move  is  expected  to  boost  the  industry's  competitiveness  and encourage more cargo owners to use inland waterways for transportation. A tonnage tax system is a special taxation policy for shipping companies where tax is not based on  actual  profits  but  on  the  size  (tonnage)  of  the  vessel.  It  provides  stable, predictable, and lower taxation for vessel owners, reducing their financial burden.

· The National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations 2025 has been notified,  allowing  private  companies  to  invest  and  operate  Inland Waterways infrastructure  by  providing  a  clear  regulatory  framework  to  attract  private  sector investment for facilitating the growth of inland waterways sector.

· Integration with Ports: World over, waterways are most optimally utilised if they are linked to ports. Kolkata port offers an opportunity of seamless integration with NW1 and can also help in resolving the problem of multi-modality. Therefore, Multi Modal Terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj, Haldia and Intermodal terminal at Kalughat along with other terminals on NW-1 are being transferred to Shyama Prasad Mookherjee Port, Kolkata for operation and management.

·  Digitalisation:  To  increase  ease  of  doing  business  in  the  IWT  sector,  along  the same  lines  as  'vahan'  and  'sarathi',  a  central  data  base  and  portal  is  being developed for registration of vessels and crew all over the country. This will facilitate registration of vessels and crew digitally and would also provide accurate status on number of vessels and crew in the country and thus help in planning.

· Cargo Aggregation: The cargo movement on the waterways suffer from problems of  multimodality  because  of  lack  of  industries  along  the  waterways.  Therefore, projects for development of cargo aggregation hub - Freight Village at Varanasi and Integrated  Cluster-  cum-Logistics  Park,  Sahibganj  have  been  taken  up.  NHLML,  a PSU  under  the  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  and  Highways  has  been  engaged  for development  of  these  MMLPs.  The  work  of  Rail  connectivity  for  three  MMTs  has been assigned to M/s Indian Port and Rail Company Ltd. (A PSU under MoPSW).

- IBP Route: Indo Bangladesh Protocol route no. 5 & 6 between Maia and Sultanganj has been operationalized recently with successful trial movements. Regular movement  shall  commence  shortly,  once  the  consent  of  Bangladesh  Side  is received.
-  Shift  of  cargo  by  PSUs:  For  modal  shift  of  cargo  to  waterways,  more  than  140 Public  Sector  Units  have  been  approached  to  plan  their  movement  using  Inland Water Transport mode. They have been requested to outline their current status of cargo movement through the waterways and their plan for modal shift of cargo. The Ministry of PNG,  Co-operation/ Fertiliser, Food & Public distribution,  Heavy industries,  Steel  and  Coal  have  been  requested  to  advise  the  PSUs  under  their jurisdiction to utilise IWT mode as far as possible and earmark certain percentage of their cargo for IWT mode keeping in line the MIV targets.

## Infrastructure measures:

(i)  Fairway  maintenance  works  (river  training,  maintenance  dredging,  channel marking  and  regular  hydrographic  surveys)  are  taken  up  in  various  National Waterways  (NWs)  for  providing  a  navigation  channel  of  35/45  m  width  and 2.0/2.2/2.5/3.0 m least available depth (LAD) for operation of vessels.

(ii) 49 community jetties, 20 floating terminals, 3 Multi-Modal Terminals (MMTs) and 1  Inter-Modal  Terminal  (IMT)  have  been  constructed  on  NW-1  (River  Ganga)  in addition to 5 pre-existing permanent terminals. (iii) 12 floating terminals provided on NW-2 (River Brahmaputra) along with MMTs at Pandu, Jogighopa and terminals at Bogibeel and Dhubri are also used for berthing of river cargo/ cruise vessels. Four dedicated Jetties have been provided at Jogighopa, Pandu,  Biswanath  Ghat  and  Neamati  with  an  investment  of  Rs.  7.09  crores.  In addition to this, Jetties for cruise and passengers have been constructed at Sadiya, Lyka and Orium Ghat in Assam. (iv) 9  Permanent Inland Water Transport terminals with godowns and 2 Ro-Ro/RoPax terminals have been constructed on NW-3 (West Coast Canal in Kerala). (v) 03 floating concrete jetties were provided to Govt. of Goa in 2020 and 01 during September 2022 and installed in Mandovi River (NW-68). 4 Tourist Jetties on part of NW-4  (River  Krishna)  in  Andhra  Pradesh  have  been  commissioned  and  12  Nos. floating  jetties  on  NW-110  (River  Yamuna)  in  Mathura-Vrindavan  stretch  in  Uttar Pradesh, 2 Jetties on NW-73 (River Narmada) & 2 Jetties on NW-37 (River Gandak)

in Bihar are under execution.

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