Lok Sabha Question No. 2343 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-13
Subject: Development of  National Waterways
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Ranjan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2343

ANSWERED ON 13.02.2026

## DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL WATERWAYS

2343. SHRI RAJESH RANJAN:

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

पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

- (a)  the  details  of  expenditures  incurred  and  achievements  made  in  regard  to  the development of National Waterways during the last five years, State-wise;
- (b)  whether  the  cargo  transportation  potential  under  National Waterway-1  (Ganga)  in Bihar is not fully utilized; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)The  details  of  expenditure  incurred  and  achievements  made  in  regard  to  the development of National Waterways (NWs) in various States during the last five years, are at Annexure-1 and Annexure-2.
- (b)  &  (c) The  Cargo  movement  on  NW-1  including  Bihar  has  increased  by  220% (approximately) from 5.05 Million MT in 2014-15 to 16.38 Million MT in 2024-25.

The details of expenditure incurred in regard to the development of National Waterways (NWs) in States during the last five years:

| Detail of expenditure during last 5 year   | Detail of expenditure during last 5 year                                                                                                                                              | Detail of expenditure during last 5 year   | Detail of expenditure during last 5 year   | Detail of expenditure during last 5 year   | Detail of expenditure during last 5 year   | Detail of expenditure during last 5 year   |
|--------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
|                                            | Sl.No.National Waterways                                                                                                                                                              | 2020- 2021                                 | 2021- 2022                                 | 2022- 2023                                 | 2023- 2024                                 | 2024- 2025                                 |
| 1                                          | Grant to Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) - Grant for creation of Capital assets                                                                                            |                                            |                                            |                                            |                                            |                                            |
| a                                          | NW-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system) in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal                                                                                       | 58.54                                      | 87.83                                      | 66.25                                      | 163.38                                     | 97.71                                      |
| b                                          | NW-3 (West Coast Canal, Kerala) including NW-8(Alapuzzha- Changonasser) &NW-9(Kottayam- valicom) in Kerala                                                                            | 21.52                                      | 10.83                                      | 3.82                                       | 4.78                                       | 15.26                                      |
| c                                          | Phase-1, NW-4(Krishna River, Andhra Pradesh)                                                                                                                                          | 3.62                                       | 3.08                                       | 0.18                                       | 0.67                                       | 1.22                                       |
| d                                          | Phase-1, NW-5 (Odisha)                                                                                                                                                                | 2.13                                       | 2.58                                       | 0.76                                       | 26.53                                      | 2.24                                       |
| e                                          | Other Plan schemes including new NWs namely NW-27 (Cumberjao canal), NW- 68 (Mondavi River), NW-111 (Zuari River) in Goa, NW-86 (Rupnarayan River), NW-97 (Sunderbans) in West Bengal | 13.21                                      | 13.47                                      | 4.36                                       | 11.25                                      | 33.47                                      |
| 2                                          | Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) (NW-1)                                                                                                                                                  | 214.05                                     | 229.60                                     | 339.22                                     | 501.26                                     | 501.48                                     |
| 3                                          | NW-2 &NW-16- Grants for creation of Capital Assets in Assam                                                                                                                           | 38.79                                      | 78.04                                      | 100.18                                     | 261.77                                     | 432.30                                     |
|                                            | Total                                                                                                                                                                                 | 351.86                                     | 425.43                                     | 514.77                                     | 969.64                                     | 1083.68                                    |

The details of achievements made in regard to the development of National Waterways in various States during the last five years:

- (i)    With  development  of  infrastructure  by  IWAI,  an  autonomous  organisation  under Ministry  of  Ports,  Shipping  and  Waterways  (MoPSW),  cargo  transportation  on national waterways has increased from 18.1 million ton (MMT) in 2013-14 to 145.84 MMT in 2024-25.
- (ii)      Construction  of  3  Multi-Modal  Terminals  (MMTs)  at  Varanasi(Uttar  Pradesh), Sahibganj  (Jharkhand)  &Haldia  (West  Bengal)  and  1  Inter-Modal  Terminal  (IMT) atKalughat  (Bihar),  60  community  jetties  in  the  States  of  Uttar  Pradesh,  Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, on NW-1 (Ganga River).
- (iii)  A  new  Navigation  Lock  at  Farakka  (West  Bengal)  and  2  Quick  Pontoon  Opening Mechanisms (QPOMs) one each in Uttar Pradeshand Bihar have been constructed on NW-1 to facilitate smooth & faster movement of vessels. Further, Modernization of  existing  navigational  lock  in  Farakka  has  been  undertaken  and  is  expected  for completion by July 2026.
- (iv) Completed Terminals at Jogighopa(Assam) and Bogibeel(Assam).  Four dedicated Jetties for cruise vessels have been provided at Jogighopa, Pandu, BiswanathGhat and Neamati in Assam. In addition to this, Jetties for cruise and passengers have been constructed at Sadiya, Lyka and OriumGhat in Assam.
- (v) Maritime Skill Development Centre (MSDC) has been established for inland vessels crew training in North Eastern Region at Guwahati, Assam.
- (vi)  Two  existing  terminals  at  Badarpur  and  Karimganj  on  NW-16  (Barak  River)  in Assam have been upgraded.
- (vii)  Sonamura  terminal  on  Gumati  River  in  Tripura  for  supporting  the  cross-border transit cargo movement between India and Bangladeshhas been developed.
- (viii) Four floating concrete jetties were provided to Government of Goa and installed in Mandovi River (NW-68) at Goa.
- (ix)  Four  Tourist  Jetties  on  NW-4  (Krishna  River)  in  Andhra  Pradesh  have  been commissioned  and  12  floating  jetties  on  NW-110  (Yamuna  River)  in  MathuraVrindavan stretch in Uttar Pradesh, 2 Jetties on NW-73 (Narmada River) & 2 Jetties on NW-37 (GandakRiver) in Bihar are under execution.
- (x) Ten Ro-Ro/ Ro Pax vessels handed over during the year 2023-24 to States for safe passenger movement as under:-
-  Two Ro Pax vessels namely M.V. Sam  Manekshaw  and M.V. Swami Vivekananda are deployed under MoU with Government of Uttar Pradesh.
-  Four Ro Pax namely M.V. Sachin Dev Burman, M.V. Rani Gaidinliu, M.V. JFR Jacob  and  M.V.  Bob  Khatingare  deployed  under  MoU  with  Government  of Assam.
-  Two  Ro-Ro  Vessels  namely  M.V.  AdiShankara  and  M.V.  C.V.  Raman  are deployed  under  MoU  with  KSINC  (Kerala  Shipping  and  Inland  Navigation Corporation).
-  Two Ro Pax vessels namely M.V. Rajendra Prasad and M.V. Swami Paramhansare deployed under MoU with Government of Bihar.
- (xi)  To  encourage  indigenous  electric  ferries  and  advance  eco-friendly  inland  water transport, IWAIis taking the following initiatives:
- (a) Hybrid Electric Catamaran Vessels: IWAI is procuring eight such vessels from Cochin  Shipyard  Limited  (CSL).  The  first  two  have  been  deployed  at  Varanasi (Ganga River-NW-1) and Ayodhya (GhaghraRiver-NW-40). Further, third one has already arrived at Gaighat Terminal in Patna (NW-1) and fourth one is deployed in Kolkata  (NW-1)  in  January  2026.  Remaining  four  such  vessels  are  scheduled  for completion and deployment during 2026.
- (b)  Hydrogen  Fuel  Cell  Catamaran:  As  part  of  an  R&D  initiative  with  Cochin Shipyard Limited, MoPSW launched India's first hydrogen-powered catamaran, now operational  in  Varanasi.  This  zero-emission  vessel  significantly  reduces  carbon footprint and sets a benchmark for sustainable innovation in inland waterways.
- (xii) 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 in the States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam and Kerala.

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