Lok Sabha Question No. 985 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-05
Subject: Development of Inland Waterways in Maharashtra
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 985

ANSWERED ON 05.12.2025

## DEVELOPMENT OF INLAND WATERWAYS IN MAHARASHTRA

985. MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE:

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

## पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

(a)  whether the  Government has identified  any rivers or  waterways in the State of Maharashtra for development under the National Waterways Programme; (b) if  so,  the  details thereof including their length, navigability and current status of development; (c) whether the Government has conducted any feasibility studies on the economic viability and environmental sustainability of these waterways, if so, the findings thereof; and (d) the steps taken by the Government to promote cargo and passenger movement

- through inland waterways in Maharashtra?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) There are 14 declared National Waterways (NWs) in the State of Maharashtra among 111 declared NWs throughout the country. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI),  an  autonomous  organisation  under  the  Ministry  of  Ports,  Shipping  and Waterways, has prepared the feasibility report of all the 14 NWs in the State. The feasible  7  NWs  with  navigable  length  of  662.97  km  have  been  identified  for development and the action plan for the same has been shared with Government of Maharashtra. The details of the 7 NWs, total and navigable length are at Annexure1 .

(d) In the State of Maharashtra NW-10 (Amba River), NW-53 (River Kalyan-Thane Mumbai Waterways, Vasai  Creek  &  Ulhas  River),  NW-83  (Rajpuri  Creek),  NW-85 (Revadanda-Kundalika River), NW-89 (Savitri River-Bankot Creek) and NW-91 (River Shastri-Jaigad  Creek)  handled  45.35%  of  the  total  Inland  Water  Transport  cargo across the country in  2024-25. IWAI is providing  assistance to cargo operators on requirement.

Annexure-1

|   Sl. No. | Details                                                        |   Total Length (in km) |   Navigable length (in km) |
|-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|----------------------------|
|         1 | NW-4 (River Godavari)                                          |               1201.6   |                      82    |
|         2 | NW-11 (Arunavati-Aran)                                         |                 98.9   |                      18    |
|         3 | NW-28 (Dabhol Creek-Vashishti River)                           |                 45.228 |                      19    |
|         4 | NW-53 (Kalyan-Thane-Mumbai Waterway Vasai Creek & Ulhas River) |                144.64  |                      68    |
|         5 | NW-85 (Revadanda Creek & Kundalika River)                      |                 30.73  |                      30.73 |
|         6 | NW-100 (River Tapi)                                            |                436.24  |                     436.24 |
|         7 | NW-109 (River Waingaganga Pranahita)                           |                165.78  |                       9    |

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