Inland Waterways see a 635% surge in cargo movement since 2014, with ₹6,000 crores invested to revitalise 111 National Waterways.
In a landmark development, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced the Modi government’s remarkable strides in rejuvenating India’s inland waterways during the ongoing Parliament session. The number of national waterways has surged from 5 in 2014 to an impressive 111, driven by an investment of over ₹6,000 crores in the past decade, compared to ₹1,620 crores in the 28 years before 2014.
Cargo movement via inland waterways has skyrocketed by over 635%, growing from 18.07 million metric tonnes (MT) in 2013-14 to 132.89 million MT in 2023-24. Sonowal highlighted a vision for the future, targeting 200 MT cargo movement by 2030 and 500 MT by 2047, aligned with Prime Minister Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Key infrastructure projects are transforming major National Waterways (NW-1, NW-2, NW-3, and NW-16) through IWT terminals, dredging contracts, night navigation facilities, and navigational locks. Special focus is on the North-East region, with initiatives like the Jogighopa Multi-Modal Terminal, Bogibeel Passenger-Cargo Terminal, and Pandu Ship Repair Facility boosting trade, connectivity, and eco-tourism.
India’s 20,236 km navigable inland waterways, rich with rivers and canals, are being revitalised to become eco-friendly, cost-effective transportation corridors, further enhancing connectivity within the country and with neighbouring nations. The Modi government’s efforts are set to position waterways as India’s economic lifeline.
