Lok Sabha Question No. 93 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-05
Subject: Godavari Waterway Connectivity for NTPC Ramagundam
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Vamsi Krishna Gaddam

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *93

ANSWERED ON 05.12.2025

## GODAVARI WATERWAY CONNECTIVITY FOR NTPC RAMAGUNDAM

## *93. SHRI VAMSI KRISHNA GADDAM:

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

- (a) the feasibility studies conducted for developing waterway connectivity to transport coal for National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ramagundam by utilizing Godavari river navigation from Adriyala coal mine in the State of Telangana;
- (b) the development plans for inland waterway transport corridors connecting Ramagundam thermal power station to reduce transportation costs and environmental impact;
- (c) the integration strategy for National Waterway-4 with power generation infrastructure in Peddapalli district and the timeline by which such connectivity is expected to be made operational;
- (d)  the  budgetary  allocations  made  for  dredging  and  infrastructure  development  on Godavari  river  to  facilitate  bulk  cargo  movement  including  coal  and  industrial  raw materials; and
- (e) the coordination framework established between the Government and power sector PSUs for utilizing waterway transport to reduce logistics costs for thermal power plants in Telangana?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *93 FOR ANSWER ON 05.12.2025 RAISED BY HON'BLE MP  SHRI  VAMSI  KRISHNA  GADDAM  REGARDING  'GODAVARI  WATERWAY CONNECTIVITY FOR NTPC RAMAGUNDAM' (a) & (b) National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ramagundam has a dedicated Merry-Go-Round Rail (MGR) system that connects the power plant to Adriyala Coalfields for supply of coal, whereas the movement of coal from Adriyala Coalmines through Inland Water  Transport  (IWT)  mode  will  have  extra  loading/unloading  leading  to  additional logistics cost and time as mentioned below: (i) First, loading for road and transport about 11 km from Coal mine sites and unloading at the bank of Godavari, (ii) Second, loading at the bank of Godavari and movement through IWT for about 11 km, and unloading from vessels at bank of Godavari, (iii) Third, loading to road transport for about 2 km for NTPC plant, and unloading at NTPC Ramagundam Plant. Thus, the IWT connectivity for NTPC Ramagundam is uneconomical for total distance of 24 km by Road and IWT because the existing Rail transport of coal involves one loading at coal mines and one unloading at NTPC plant having direct connectivity with dedicated MGR. (c) Does not arise. (d) The feasibility of River Godavari (a constituent of NW-4) was conducted and it was found non feasible due to presence of 3 weirs, 21 barrages, 5 dams and 14 check dams without navigation locks.

(e)    A  Task  Force  has  been  constituted  under  the  Chairmanship  of  Chairman,  Inland Waterways Authority of India an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways with representatives of various stakeholder Ministries/ organizations as Members to focus on cargo handling and movement on Inland Waterways.

*****