Lok Sabha Question No. 782 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-07
Subject: Cargo Movement in Inland Waterways
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Dilip Saikia, Shri Ravindra Shukla Alias Ravi Kishan, Smt. Vijaylakshmi Devi, Smt. Shobhanaben Mahendrasinh Baraiya

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTIONNO. 782

ANSWERED ON 07.02.2025

## CARGO MOVEMENT IN INLAND WATERWAYS

782. SMT. VIJAYLAKSHMI DEVI: SHRI RAVINDRA SHUKLA ALIAS RAVI KISHAN: SMT. SHOBHANABEN MAHENDRASINH BARAIYA: SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:

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

## पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

- (a) the salient features and objectives of the 'Jalvahak' scheme along with the total budgetaryallocation therefor; (b)  the  regions/areas  and  sectors  included  thereunder  along  with  the  expected economic benefits of boosting inland waterways cargo movement; (c)  the  manner  in  which  the  introduction  of  'Jalvahak'  scheme  will  improve  the efficiency  andsustainability  of  cargo  transportation  in  inland  waterways  across  the
- country; and
- (d)whetherthewesternregionofthecountryincludingGujaratwillbenefiteconomicallyfrom the scheme, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to  (d)The Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector is in nascent stage and requires support  to promote  modal  shift  of  cargo,  in addition to  creation of  physical infrastructure.  While  the  cost  of  transporting  cargo  on  the  waterways  itself  is  less compared to other modes of transport, the multi modal nature of the transport makes the total logistics cost higher than other modes of transport. Even in the developed part  of  world  e.g.  Europe,  programs  like  Marcopolo  were  launched  to  provide financial  support  for  modal  shift  of  cargo  to  waterways.  Accordingly,  while  Inland Waterways  Authority  of  India  (IWAI)  works  on  providing  hard  infrastructure  on National waterways, it is essential to provide financial support to waterways.

The  'Jalvahak'  Scheme  has  been  launched  on  15.12.2024  with  the  objective  to provide  impetus  to  modal  shift  of  cargo  to  IWT  by  incentivizing  such  shift  and demonstrate the reliability as well as readiness of the IWT sector. The Scheme, at a cost of Rs. 95.42 crores, has following two components:

Component-1:   Provide  financial  incentive  directly  to  the  cargo  owners  for sustainable  modal  shift  of  cargo  from  rail/  road  to  IWT  mode.  Such  financial incentive  is  to  the  extent  of  35%  of  the  total  actual  operating  expenditure incurred on waterways journey. The modal shift to waterways aims to act as a driver for promoting the utilization of IWT mode by the cargo owners.

Component-2: Scheduled Services: Under Jalvahak Scheme,scheduled services  have  been  introduced,  which  are  crucial  for  improving  the  reliability and  predictability  of  cargo  transportation  on  India's  inland  waterways.  These scheduled  services  ensure  that  vessels  operate  on  a  consistent  timetable, allowing  businesses  to  plan  their  logistics  more  efficiently.  This  predictability helps  in  reducing  delays  and  ensures  timely  delivery  of  goods,  fostering confidence  among  stakeholders  in  the  reliability  of  waterway  transport.The routes identified for scheduled services are Kolkata - Patna - Varanasi stretch of  NW-1,  Kolkata-Pandu  on NW-2 via  Indo  Bangladesh  Protocol (IBP) Route and Kolkata-Badarpur/Karimganj on NW-16 via IBP Route.

This scheme is applicable for cargo movement onNW-1, NW-2 and NW-16 via Indo Bangladesh Protocol route thus benefits the areas adjoining these national waterways.

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