Inland Waterways in India

 

1. India has 111 National Waterways with a total length of 20,187 kilometres, spread across 23 States and 4 Union Territories under the National Waterways framework.

2. As of March 2026, 32 National Waterways were operational in India, spanning 5,155 kilometres and supporting both cargo movement and passenger transport activities.

3. The Union Budget 2026–27 announced the operationalisation of 20 new National Waterways over the next five years to expand inland water transport infrastructure.

4. Cargo transportation on National Waterways reached an all-time high of 145.84 million metric tonnes in FY 2024–25 and 198 MMT till February 2026.

• Operational NWs in India (as of March, 2026)

S. No.	State(s)	NW No.	Limits of NW
1	Andhra Pradesh	NW-4	Krishna-Godavari River Systems
2	Assam	NW-2	Brahmaputra River (Dhubri-Sadiya)
3		NW-16	Barak River
4		NW-31	Dhansiri / Chathe
5		NW-57	Kopili River
6	Bihar	NW-94	Sone River
7	Goa	NW-68	Mandovi River
8		NW-27	Cumberjua River
9		NW-111	Zuari River
10	Gujarat	NW-48	Jawai-Luni-Rann of Kutch River
11		NW-73	Narmada River
12		NW-87	Sabarmati River
13		NW-100	Tapi River
14	Kerala	NW-3	West Coast Canal
15		NW-8	Alappuzha-Changanassery Canal
16		NW-9	Alappuzha-Kottayam-Athirampuzha Canal
17	Maharashtra	NW-10	Amba River
18		NW-53	Kalyan-Thane-Mumbai Waterway, Vasai Creek and Ulhas River
19		NW-83	Rajpuri Creek
20		NW-85	Revadanda Creek-Kundalika River System
21		NW-91	Shastri River-Jaigad Creek System
22	Odisha	NW-5	East Coast Canal and Matai River/Brahmani-Kharsua-Dhamra Rivers/Mahanadi Delta Rivers
23		NW-14	Baitarani River
24		NW-23	Budha Balanga
25		NW-64	Mahanadi River
26	Uttar Pradesh	NW-110	Yamuna River
27		NW-40	Ghaghra River
28	Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal	NW-1	Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Haldia-Allahabad)
29	West Bengal	NW-44	Ichamati River
30		NW-47	Jalangi River
31		NW-86	Rupnarayan River
32		NW-97	Sundarbans Waterway

5. The National Waterways Act, 2016 declared 111 inland waterways as National Waterways, including continuation of the first five and addition of 106 new waterways.

6. India aims to raise the Inland Water Transport modal share from 2 percent to 5 percent and increase cargo volumes to above 200 MMT by 2030.

7. The Union Budget 2026–27 seeks to increase the combined share of inland waterways and coastal shipping from 6 percent to 12 percent by 2047.

8. Passenger traffic on National Waterways increased from 1.61 crore in 2023–24 to 7.6 crore in 2024–25, indicating major expansion in inland water transport usage.

9. As of November 2025, cargo operations were functional on 29 National Waterways, cruise operations on 15, and passenger services on 23 waterways.

10. A total of 11 National Waterways supported cargo, cruise, and passenger movement together, showing the emergence of multimodal inland water transport integration.

11. The Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985 was enacted on 30 December 1985 and created the IWAI to regulate and develop inland waterways.

12. The Inland Vessels Act, 2021 was adopted on 11 August 2021 to ensure uniform rules, safe navigation, vessel regulation, and pollution reduction in inland waters.

13. The Jalvahak-Cargo Promotion Scheme, introduced on 15 December 2024, reimburses up to 35 percent of actual operating cost for waterway journeys on selected routes.

Key Provisions and Targets of the Harit Nauka Inland Vessels Green Transition Guidelines
Focus Area	Key Provisions / Targets
Green Vessel Ecosystem	Promotion of green inland vessels, supporting infrastructure, and development of an operational ecosystem.
Alignment with Maritime India Vision 2030	Supports the objectives of Maritime India Vision 2030 by promoting a higher share of inland waterways in the national transport system and encouraging greater cargo movement.
Alignment with Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047	Aligns with the long-term goals of Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which aims for a complete transition to green inland vessels and a significant expansion of inland waterway cargo capacity.
Linkage with Sustainability	Builds upon earlier sustainability initiatives, including the Harit Sagar Guidelines 2023, by extending green practices from ports to inland vessels.
Complementary Programmes	Complements the Green Tug Transition Programme, ensuring a consistent approach to decarbonisation across maritime and inland water transport.
Carbon Intensity Targets	Targets 30% reduction in carbon intensity of inland waterway-based passenger transport by 2030 and 70% reduction by 2047
State-Level Transition Roadmap	Serves as a roadmap for States to shift 50% of passenger fleet to green fuels by 2033 and 100% by 2045.
Vessel Greening Targets	Aims to green at least 1,000 inland vessels over the next 10 years and achieve 100% green vessels across all Indian water bodies by 2047

14. The Harit Nauka Guidelines launched on 8 January 2024 target a 30 percent reduction in carbon intensity by 2030 and 70 percent by 2047.

15. Under Jal Marg Vikas Project on National Waterway-1, a ₹5,061.15 crore project covers the 1,390 kilometre Varanasi to Haldia stretch and is targeted for completion by 30 June 2026.

• Inland Waterways Cruise Operations in India

Waterway	Operational Stretch	Current Status of Cruise Operations
NW 1	Varanasi to Haldia	River cruise services operate on this stretch; however, large cruise vessels generally operate only up to Patna due to depth limitations and pontoon bridges.
NW 2	Guwahati to Neamati	River cruise operations are active on this stretch.
NW 3	Entire stretch	Fully operational for passenger ferry and houseboat services.
NW 4	Selected locations	Passenger ferry services operate at intermittent locations.
NW 8	Alappuzha to Changanassery	Fully operational for passenger ferry and houseboat services.
NW 97	Entire stretch	Fully operational for river cruise movement.
Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route	Cross-border route	Technically feasible; pilot cruise movements have been carried out.

• Initiatives for Upgrading Inland Water Transport Infrastructure in the North-Eastern States

S. No.	Initiatives	Key Components / Details
1	NW-2 (Brahmaputra River)	Comprehensive development has been undertaken during 2020-21 to 2024-25 at a cost of ₹498 crore Construction of terminals at Bogibeel and Jogighopa Development of tourist jetties at Bogibeel and Pandu. Regular fairway development works have been undertaken. Navigational aids have been installed to support smooth shipping operations
2	Ship Repair Facility and Connectivity at Pandu	Ship Repair Facility at Pandu and an elevated road connecting National Highway-27 with Pandu Port and the Ship Repair Facility are being developed Project cost of ₹419 crore.
3	Development of NW-16 (Barak River)	Development undertaken since 2020-21 at a cost of ₹134.72 crore. Major works include: Upgradation of terminals at Badarpur and Karimganj. Fairway development and maintenance of navigational aids. Procurement of amphibian dredgers.
4	NW-57 (Kopili River)	Operationalised with the successful movement of 300 metric tonnes of cement from Chandrapur (Kamrup) to Hatsingimari (South Salmara-Mankachar).
5	Central Sector Schemes (CSS) for IWT in NER	Projects worth ₹100 crore sanctioned for the development of Inland Water Transport in the North-Eastern States. These cover terminal and fairway development. Procurement of small passenger vessels.
6	River Cruise Tourism Promotion	Promotion of river cruise tourism in the North Eastern Region by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways through the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). Development of dedicated cruise terminals on NW-2.
7	Cruise Terminal Development	Cruise terminals are being developed at Guwahati, Neamati, Biswanath Ghat, Silghat, and Guijan to support river-based tourism
8	Religious Tourism Circuit (SPV-led Initiative)	Formation of an SPV comprising Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited, IWAI, and the Assam Government. Development of a religious tourism circuit connecting 7 temples – Lachit Ghat, Aswanta Temple Ghat, Doul Govinda Mandir Ghat, Hanuman Mandir Ghat (Uzan Bazar), Umananda Ghat, Pandunath Ghat, and Kamakhya Temple. Operation through suitable vessels under a hop-on hop-off model.

• Jal Marg Vikas Project

The Jal Marg Vikas Project, along with Jal Marg Vikas Project-II (Arth Ganga), is being implemented to improve navigability on National Waterway-1 and to support the socio-economic development of communities along the Ganga River banks.

Jal Marg Vikas Project on NW-1

Jal Marg Vikas Project II (Arth Ganga)

The project aims to increase the capacity of NW-1 along the Varanasi-Haldia stretch of the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system. The project is supported by technical and financial assistance from the World Bank. Its objective is to improve navigability on NW-1. This is being achieved through fairway development to maintain an assured water depth of 2.2 to 3.0 metres for at least 330 days a year. This allows the movement of larger vessels with a capacity of 1,500 to 2,000 DWT. The project also includes the development of supporting infrastructure. This covers multimodal terminals, jetties, navigational locks, barrages, channel marking systems, and other logistics and communication facilities. A ₹5,061.15 crore project is underway for National Waterway-1 (NW-1), covering a 1,390 km stretch from Varanasi to Haldia, and is targeted for completion by 30 June 2026. Cargo movement on NW-1 has grown by 220%, increasing from 5.05 MMT in 2014-15 to 16.38 MMT in 2024-25.   Key infrastructure, including the Multi-Modal Terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia, along with the Inter-Modal Terminal at Kalughat, is now operational.   The Quick Pontoon Opening Mechanism (QPOM) has been introduced, enabling vessels to pass in just five minutes, eliminating delays earlier caused by bridge cutting and welding.

ARTH GANGA (JMVP-II) has been planned and is being implemented as a sub-component of the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP). Its objective is to support socio-economic development along the banks of the Ganga. The programme focuses on inclusive growth and aims to improve the livelihoods of communities living along the river. It seeks to link people’s participation and economic activities with the rejuvenation of the Ganga. Under JMVP-II, the programme provides simple logistics solutions to help small farmers, fishery units, unorganised producers, horticulturists, florists, and artisans reach nearby markets. This is expected to enhance economic activity in the region and generate significant employment opportunities. As of April 2026, 66 community jetties have been developed along NW-1 and are operational, facilitating local trade and serving approximately 1.22 lakh users daily.

Must Know Terms :

 

1.IWAI

IWAI stands for Inland Waterways Authority of India, created under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985, enacted on 30 December 1985. It is the central authority responsible for development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping, navigation, and related infrastructure. It mainly works on fairways, terminals, navigational aids, and overall inland water transport development on National Waterways across India.

2. Jalvahak

Jalvahak-Cargo Promotion Scheme was introduced on 15 December 2024 to encourage cargo movement through inland waterways. It provides reimbursement of up to 35 percent of actual operating cost of a waterway journey. The scheme supports scheduled cargo services on NW-1, NW-2, and NW-16 through the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route. It is expected to shift around 800 million tonne kilometres of cargo to waterways.

3. HaritNauka

Harit Nauka Inland Vessels Green Transition Guidelines were launched on 8 January 2024 to promote cleaner and more efficient inland water transport. The guidelines target a 30 percent reduction in carbon intensity of inland waterway passenger transport by 2030 and 70 percent by 2047. They also aim to green at least 1,000 inland vessels in 10 years and achieve 100 percent green vessels by 2047.

4. JMVP

JMVP stands for Jal Marg Vikas Project, implemented to improve navigability on National Waterway-1 along the Varanasi-Haldia stretch of the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system. Supported by the World Bank, it includes fairway development, terminals, jetties, and navigation facilities. A ₹5,061.15 crore project covering 1,390 kilometres is underway, with completion targeted by 30 June 2026 under this major waterway development programme.

5. LADIS

LADIS stands for Least Available Depth Information System. It provides information on the minimum available water depth in navigation channels on selected National Waterways. Assured water depth is essential for safe and smooth vessel movement, voyage planning, and navigation reliability. By sharing updated depth information digitally, LADIS helps operators plan cargo and passenger transport more efficiently on inland waterways across India.

6. RIS

RIS stands for River Information Services, an integrated digital system designed to improve safety, efficiency, and traffic management on inland waterways. It enables real-time vessel tracking, monitoring of waterway conditions, and updates on weather and water levels. RIS also supports communication between vessels and control centres, reducing delays and improving voyage planning, navigation safety, and coordination among inland water transport stakeholders.

 

Key Takeaways

 

a) India has a network of 111 National Waterways, with a total length of 20,187 km spread across 23 States and four Union Territories. Of these, 32 National Waterways are currently operational.

b) The Union Budget 2026-27 has announced to operationalise 20 new National Waterways (NWs) over the next 5 years.

c) Cargo transportation on National Waterways reached an all-time high of 145.84 million metric tonnes in FY 2024-25.

MCQ :

1. India has how many National Waterways under the current framework?

A) 101
B) 111
C) 121
D) 131

2. The total length of National Waterways in India is:

A) 15,187 kilometres
B) 18,187 kilometres
C) 20,187 kilometres
D) 22,187 kilometres

3. As of March 2026, how many National Waterways were operational in India?

A) 29
B) 32
C) 52
D) 111

4. The Union Budget 2026–27 announced operationalisation of how many new National Waterways over the next five years?

A) 10
B) 15
C) 20
D) 25

5. Cargo transportation on National Waterways reached what level in FY 2024–25?

A) 125.84 million metric tonnes
B) 135.84 million metric tonnes
C) 145.84 million metric tonnes
D) 198.84 million metric tonnes

6. The National Waterways Act, 2016 provided for:

A) declaration of only 5 National Waterways
B) declaration of 111 National Waterways
C) abolition of the first 5 National Waterways
D) declaration of 32 operational waterways only

7. India aims to increase the Inland Water Transport modal share from 2 percent to:

A) 4 percent
B) 5 percent
C) 6 percent
D) 8 percent

8. The combined share of inland waterways and coastal shipping is targeted to rise from 6 percent to what level by 2047?

A) 10 percent
B) 11 percent
C) 12 percent
D) 15 percent

9. Passenger traffic on National Waterways increased from 1.61 crore in 2023–24 to:

A) 5.6 crore
B) 6.6 crore
C) 7.6 crore
D) 8.6 crore

10. As of November 2025, cargo operations were functional on how many National Waterways?

A) 23
B) 29
C) 15
D) 11

11. The Inland Waterways Authority of India was created under the:

A) National Waterways Act, 2016
B) Inland Vessels Act, 2021
C) Coastal Shipping Act, 2025
D) Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985

12. The Jalvahak-Cargo Promotion Scheme provides reimbursement of up to what percentage of actual operating cost of a waterway journey?

A) 25 percent
B) 30 percent
C) 35 percent
D) 40 percent

13. The Harit Nauka Guidelines target what reduction in carbon intensity of inland waterway passenger transport by 2030?

A) 20 percent
B) 25 percent
C) 30 percent
D) 35 percent

14. The Jal Marg Vikas Project on National Waterway-1 covers which stretch?

A) Haldia to Dibrugarh
B) Varanasi to Haldia
C) Allahabad to Patna
D) Patna to Kolkata

15. The total project cost of the Jal Marg Vikas Project on National Waterway-1 is:

A) ₹4,061.15 crore
B) ₹5,061.15 crore
C) ₹6,061.15 crore
D) ₹7,061.15 crore