Lok Sabha Question No. 3253 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-08
Subject: National Waterways in Maharashtra
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh, Smt. Supriya Sule, Shri Sanjay Dina Patil, Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3253

ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025

## NATIONAL WATERWAYS IN MAHARASHTRA

3253.  SHRI SANJAY DINA PATIL: SHRI MOHITE PATIL DHAIRYASHEEL RAJSINH: DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE: SMT. SUPRIYA SULE: SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE:

PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD:

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

## पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

(a) whether fifteen National Waterways (NWs) covering a total length of 3,089 km in Maharashtra were declared under the National Waterways Act, 2016 and if so, the details thereof including distribution district-wise; (b) the names and navigable lengths of the six operational National Waterways along with the nature of cargo/passenger movement being facilitated in Maharashtra; (c) whether the Government has received any fresh proposals for new waterways or upgradation of non-operational NWs in Maharashtra, if so, the details thereof; (d) whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  study  or  initiative  to  promote modal  shift  of  cargo  transport  to  inland  waterways  to  reduce  logistics  costs  in Maharashtra, if so, the details thereof along with the progress made in this regard; and (e) the  steps  taken  to  promote  industrialization  and  economic  activity  along  the riverbanks in Maharashtra, especially in districts like Raigad, Mumbai and Ratnagiri, which are stated to be the primary beneficiaries of inland water transport?

## ANSWER

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

(a)   Fifteen (15) National Waterways (NWs) in Maharashtra were declared as National Waterways vide National Waterways Act, 2016. The total length of these NWs is 3089 kilometers (kms), out of which, 1851.45 kms is in Maharashtra. Details of these NWs in Maharashtra covering various districts are at Annexure.

- (b) Five (5) NWs are operational in the State of Maharashtra with a total length of 304  km.  The  operational  NWs  are  NW-10  (River  Amba),  NW-53  (Kalyan-ThaneMumbai Waterway, Vasai Creek and Ulhas River), NW-83 (Rajpuri Creek), NW-85 (Revdanda creek and Kundalika River), and NW-91 (Shastri River-Jaigad Fort creek). The cargo moved on these NWs includes coal, iron  ore, cement  clinker etc. Total passenger movement recorded on these NWs was 27.37 lakh during 2024-25.
- (c) One  proposal  for  preparation  of  pre-feasibility  study  of  Vidharbha  Seaway Canal has been received from the Government of Maharashtra.
- (d) The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is taking initiatives for modal shift of cargo to  Inland  Water  Transport  (IWT)  mode  through  regular  meetings with stakeholders  including  request  to  Central  and  State  PSUs  for  earmarking  certain percentage of their cargo for transportation using inland waterways. As a result, the total cargo movement on the five (5) NWs viz. NW-10, NW-53, NW-83, NW-85 and NW-91 have increased from 28.21 million metric tonne during 2020-21 to 66.11 million metric tonne during 2024-25. However, no specific study with respect to the State of Maharashtra has been undertaken.
- (e) IWAI  is  mandated  with  the  responsibility  of  development  and  regulation  of inland waterways for shipping and navigation. The economic activity and industrialization across river banks comes largely under the domain of respective state governments. As informed by the Government of Maharashtra, under the Maharashtra Logistics Policy-2024, the Government has envisaged several initiatives to improve coastal logistics and  promote  port-led industrialisation in South Maharashtra, particularly in the districts of Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg. The policy envisions development of integrated logistics hubs, improved coastal connectivity and enhanced port  infrastructure  ensure  efficient  to  movement  of  cargo  and  promote  regional economic growth.

## Details of National Waterways in Maharashtra:

| S. No.   | NW     | River                                                        | Tota l Le ngth ( K m)   | Lengt h in M ahara shtra ( km)   | Districts                                                                       |
|----------|--------|--------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|----------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.       | NW 4   | Godavari (Maharas htra, Chhattisgarh & Telangana)            | 1 2 0 2                 | 683.6                            | Nashik, Ahmednagar, Aura ngabad, Beed, Jalana, Nan ded, Prabhani & Gaddchirol i |
| 2.       | NW 10  | Amba River                                                   | 45                      | 45                               | Raigad                                                                          |
| 3.       | NW 11  | Arunavati - Aran ri ver system                               | 99                      | 99                               | Yawatmal, Washim                                                                |
| 4.       | NW 28  | Dabhol creek-Vash ishti River                                | 45                      | 45                               | Ratnagiri                                                                       |
| 5.       | NW 53  | Kalyan-Thane-Mu mbai Waterway, Va sai Creek and Ulhas R iver | 145                     | 145                              | Mumbai, Malegaon, Nashik                                                        |
| 6.       | NW 72  | Nag River                                                    | 60                      | 60                               | Nagpur                                                                          |
| 7.       | NW 83  | Rajpuri creek                                                | 31                      | 31                               | Raigad                                                                          |
| 8.       | NW 85  | Revdanda creek an d Kundalika River                          | 31                      | 31                               | Raigad                                                                          |
| 9.       | NW 89  | Savitri River and B ankot creek                              | 46                      | 46                               | Raigad                                                                          |
| 10.      | NW 91  | Shastri River-Jaiga d Fort creek                             | 52                      | 52                               | Ratnagiri                                                                       |
| 11.      | NW 100 | Tapi River( Gujarat & Maharashtra)                           | 436                     | 228                              | Dhule, Jalgaon, Nandurbar                                                       |
| 12.      | NW 70  | Manjira River                                                | 245                     | 108.78                           | Nanded                                                                          |
| 13.      | NW 78  | Painganga River- Wardha River                                | 261. 51                 | 197.60                           | Buldhana, Chandrapur, Yawatmal, Washim, Hingoli                                 |
| 14.      | NW 109 | Wainganga River- Pranahita River                             | 165. 78                 | 35                               | Chandrapur & Gadchiroli                                                         |
| 15.      | NW 73  | Narmada ( Gujarat & Maharashtra)                             | 226                     | 44.5                             | Nandurbar                                                                       |
| Total    | Total  | Total                                                        | 3 0 9 0                 | 1851.4 5                         |                                                                                 |

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