India’s national waterways experienced a remarkable 16 percent year-on-year increase in cargo movement during the fiscal year 2022–23, as reported by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal. The rise in traffic between Varanasi and Haldia (NW-l) from 10.93 million tonnes in 2021–22 to 13.17 million tonnes in 2022–23 demonstrates the growing importance of water transport in the country.
To accommodate this surge, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is executing the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP), aimed at enhancing the capacity of the National Waterway-l (NW-l) between Haldia and Varanasi. With an estimated cost of Rs 4,633.81 crore, the project encompasses the development of multimodal terminals, intermodal facilities, and improved navigational infrastructure to bolster cargo transportation efficiency and reliability on the National Waterways.
