IWAI to hold first-ever policy workshop in Patna on boosting cargo and passenger traffic on River Ganga via NW-1
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is set to host a first-of-its-kind consultative workshop on the development of Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) along National Waterway 1 (River Ganga) under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP). Scheduled for Monday, 16 June 2025, in Patna, this high-level inter-ministerial dialogue marks a major step in shaping inland waterway policy in Eastern India.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, will chair the ministerial workshop, accompanied by Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh, MoS Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur, Bihar’s Ministers Vijay Chaudhury and Sheela Kumari, and Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh. The workshop will also feature senior technocrats, subject experts, and key officials from both state and central governments.
The session will spotlight 11 years of cargo growth on NW-1, covering Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, with a special focus on tripling cargo movement along the Varanasi-Haldia stretch of the Ganga.
Vijay Kumar (IAS), Chairman of IWAI, emphasised the significance of this event, stating that Patna is poised to become a key hub for inland water transport in the region. The workshop will delve into technical and policy-level discussions to unlock new opportunities in regional trade, hinterland connectivity, and sustainable economic development.
Under the JMVP, transformative interventions such as fairway development, multimodal terminals, navigational locks, community jetties, and modern river management tools are reviving the navigability and reliability of National Waterway 1. The project is laying the foundation for a cleaner, greener, and more efficient cargo and passenger transport system on one of India’s most significant rivers.
Source: PIB
