India pushes waterway growth with a ₹6,833 Cr investment; 60 jetties, hybrid vessels, and river tourism are in focus
In a major thrust to green and efficient transport, the Government of India has sanctioned ₹6,833.46 crore over the last five years to enhance infrastructure along national waterways. The update was shared by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
At the heart of this investment lies the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP I & II), which has received the lion’s share of ₹5,061.15 crore. This ambitious project spans the Varanasi-Haldia stretch of National Waterway-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly) and is transforming inland cargo movement across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
To bring tangible benefits to riverside communities, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is constructing 60 community jetties, aimed at supporting farmers, fishers, and local residents. These jetties are part of a broader push to turn river corridors into economic lifelines.
India’s inland waterway modernisation doesn’t stop there. Key highlights of the five-year investment plan include:
- ₹498.38 Cr for comprehensive development of National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra) in Assam
- ₹419 Cr for road and ship repair infrastructure at Pandu, Guwahati
- ₹266.09 Cr to develop 23 new national waterways in Phase-1
- ₹144 Cr for 8 hybrid electric catamarans, ordered from Cochin Shipyard Ltd
- Delivery and deployment of India’s first hydrogen-fuelled vessel at Varanasi
- Infrastructure support under the Central Sector Scheme for the Northeast Region
Floating jetties and terminals have also been constructed across various waterways to make life easier for riverbank communities and support economic activities.
Sonowal highlighted that the Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector is not just an alternative logistics route but a driver of growth, capable of creating jobs and skills in areas such as cruise tourism, shipbuilding, terminal management, river engineering, and navigation technologies.
The government’s consistent investment signals a long-term vision to revive India’s rivers as vital transport arteries and ensure that the waterways sector becomes a key pillar in sustainable development and regional connectivity.
Source: PIB
