Kochi, Jan 24 (UNI) India’s Inland Waterways Development Council has approved projects and policy measures worth over Rs 1,500 crore to fast-track inland water transport, increase incentives offered for carrying cargo, and develop environmentally friendly logistics solutions, the government said Friday.
Kerala appears to be a major gainer with its waterways included in a scheme to promote cargo transport on inland waterways, with a reimbursement of 35% of operating costs to cargo owners.
The decisions were taken at the third meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC 3.0), chaired by Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal. The council approved a roadmap to expand national waterways, strengthen coordination between the Centre and states, and boost passenger and cargo movement.
Foundation stones were laid for projects exceeding Rs 150 crore, including river cruise jetties in Kerala and other states, signalling a major boost to cruise tourism and passenger infrastructure.
Sonowal said inland waterways have become a strategic pillar of India’s logistics transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, helping reduce logistics costs, ease congestion on roads and railways, and cut carbon emissions.
He noted that rivers are now being developed not merely as natural assets but as economic lifelines supporting growth, connectivity and sustainability.
Kerala’s extensive backwater and canal network was highlighted as a major opportunity. The council announced that the Jal Vahak scheme, initially launched on select waterways, is being explored for expansion to other national waterways, including those in Kerala.
Under the scheme, cargo owners can receive reimbursement of up to 35 per cent of operating expenditure for cargo moved through inland waterways, encouraging private participation and making water-based logistics commercially attractive for shipping companies, freight forwarders and bulk cargo operators.
The meeting also announced the launch of Fixed Day Scheduled Sailing Services on commercially viable stretches to demonstrate the reliability and efficiency of inland waterways for cargo movement.
For Kerala, the approved package includes the development of river cruise jetties and the induction of a survey vessel, strengthening capacity for passenger movement, tourism and safe navigation.
IWDC 3.0 identified asset procurement worth over ₹465 crore to enhance year-round navigability and safety. This includes survey vessels in Kerala, Ro-Pax berthing jetties in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, floating pontoons and quick-opening mechanisms in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, as well as hybrid survey vessels, dredgers and tug-barge units.
Major new projects worth over ₹900 crore were also reviewed, including a slipway facility at Kochi, construction of 110 jetties across Odisha and the Northeast, implementation of the National River Traffic and Navigation System in Maharashtra, a Rs 70-crore cruise terminal at Uzan Bazar Ghat in Guwahati, and a Rs 144-crore approach road to the Bogibeel River Port in Dibrugarh on the Brahmaputra (NW-2).
Special emphasis was placed on the Northeast, where the government plans to develop 85 jetties with an investment exceeding ₹500 crore to boost connectivity, trade, tourism and livelihoods of riverine communities.
Sonowal said the region holds a central place in India’s inland waterways vision and has the potential to emerge as a major hub for sustainable transport and regional integration.
The council was informed that cargo movement on national waterways has surged from 18 million tonnes in 2013–14 to 145.84 million tonnes in 2024–25, while the number of operational national waterways has increased from three to 32.
Luxury river cruise vessels have grown from five to 25, operational terminals from 15 to 25, and floating jetties from 30 to 100, reflecting growing confidence among investors and state governments.
IWDC 3.0 reviewed regulatory issues, urban water transport initiatives and the expansion of green and hybrid vessels, digital navigation systems and modern terminals. The success of the Kochi Water Metro was cited as a model for replication in cities such as Guwahati, Varanasi, Patna, Tezpur and Dibrugarh.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment by the Centre and states to scale up inland water transport, promote cleaner mobility solutions and strengthen regional connectivity.
Inland waterways were reaffirmed as a future-ready, cost-effective and environment-friendly mode of transport for cargo and passengers, contributing to smarter logistics and sustainable national growth.
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