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Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
09 DEC 2022 12:26PM by PIB Delhi
PROMOTION OF INLAND NAVIGATION

To promote Inland Water Transport (IWT) in the country, 111 waterways (including 5 existing and 106 new) spread over 24 states have been declared as National Waterways under the National Waterways Act, 2016. Based on the outcome of techno-economic feasibility and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of the NWs, 26 NWs have been found viable for cargo/passenger movement as detailed at Annex.-1.

To promote inland waterways as a supplementary, eco-friendly and cheaper mode of transport, waterway usage charges levied by the IWAI on vessels moving on National Waterways have been waived in July 2020, initially for a period of three years.

In addition to pre-2016 existing 5 NWs, development of 9 new NWs for promotion of inland shipping have been taken up as detailed at Annex.-2.

 

Annex.-1

LIST OF 26 NATIONAL WATERWAYS (NWs)

FOUND FEASIBLE FOR CARGO / PASSENGER MOVEMENT

Sl. No

NW

Details of Waterways

Length (Km)

STATES

1

NW 1

Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Haldia - Allahabad)

1620

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal

2

NW 2

Brahmaputra River (Dhubri - Sadiya)

891

Assam

3

NW 16

Barak River (Lakhipur -Tuker Gram)

121

Assam

4

NW 3

West Coast Canal (Kottapuram - Kollam), Champakara and Udyogmandal Canals

205

Kerala

5

NW 4

Krishna River (Vijayawada – Muktyala)

82

Andhra Pradesh

6

NW 5

Dhamra-Paradip via Mangalagadi to Pankopal

233

Odisha

7

NW 8

Alappuzha- Changanassery Canal

29

Kerala

8

NW 9

Alappuzha - Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal

40

Kerala (Alternate route: 11.5km)

9

NW 27

Cumberjua River (Cortalim-Ferry to Sao MartiasVidhanParisad)

17

Goa

10

NW 68

Mandovi River (Usgoan bridge to Arabian Sea)

41

Goa

11

NW 86

Rupnarayan River (Pratap Pur to Geonkhali)

72

West Bengal

12

NW 97

Sunderbans Waterway (Namkhana to AtharaBanki Khal)

172

West Bengal

13

NW 111

Zuari River (Sanvorden bridge to Marmugao Port)

50

Goa

14

NW 40

Ghagra River (Faizabad to ManjhiGhat)

345

Bihar & U.P.

15

NW 10

Amba River (Arabian Sea, Dharamtaar Creek to Nagothane ST Stand)

45

Maharashtra

16

NW 44

Ichamati River (Bridge at Gobra to Bansjhari near Bangladesh Border)

63

West Bengal

17

NW 52

Kali River (Kodasalli Dam to Sadashivgad Bridge, Arabian Sea)

53

Karnataka

18

NW 57

Kopili River (Banthai Gaon Tinali Bus Stop to Chandrapur No.2 confluence with Brahmaputra)

50

Assam

19

NW 25

Chapora River (Bridge near Maneri village to Morjim, Arabian Sea)

25

Goa

20

NW 37

Gandak River (Bhaisalotal Barrage to Hazipur)

296

Bihar & U.P.

21

NW 28

Dabhol Creek Vasisti River (Arabian Sea at Dabhol to Bridge at Pedhe)

45

Maharashtra

22

NW 73

Narmada River (Pandhariya to Gulf of Khambhat)

226

Maharashtra & Gujarat

23

NW 85

Revadanda Creek - Kundalika River System (Arabian Sea at Revadanda to Bridge near Roha Nagar)

31

Maharashtra

24

NW 94

Sone River (Sone Barrage, Dehri to Confluence with the Ganga)

141

Bihar

25

NW 100

Tapi River (Hatnur Dam to Gulf of Khambhat)

436

Maharashtra & Gujarat

26

NW 31

Dhansiri River (Morongi T.E. village Bridge to Numaligarh)

110

Assam

Annex.-2

The details of projects initiated on the 09 new national waterways:

Sl. No

NW

Details of Waterways/States

Length (Km)

Projects started

1

NW 16

Barak River (Lakhipur -Tuker Gram) in Assam

121

Development of NW 16 and IBP route at a cost of Rs 145 crore during 2020-21 to 2024-25 was approved by SFC. Declared as National Waterway-16 (NW-16), Barak River connects Silchar, Karimganj and Badarpur in Cacher valley of Assam through road/waterway with Haldia and Kolkata ports through Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) Route. There are 10 activities as approved by SFC for NW-16 & IBP route. Out of these 10 activities, 03 are of permanent nature viz, (1) Construction of Terminal at Sonamura on Gumti river, (2) Construction of terminal at Maia on Ganga River and (3) Upgradation of Badarpur and Karimganj terminals, which are in consideration. The remaining 07 activities are of recurring nature viz., (1) Fairway development (2) O&M of navigational aids (3) Consultancy training (4) cargo promotion, and (5) amenities at Ports of Call etc. These activities are carried out on annual maintenance basis under implementation at 2.55% progress till October 2022.

2

NW 8

Alappuzha- Changanassery Canal in Kerala

29

Development proposed as per DPR recommendations. 24 hours navigational aids (15 nos.) provided at critical locations and being maintained.

3

NW 9

Alappuzha - Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal in Kerala

40

Development of the waterway at an estimated cost of INR 1.60 crore has commenced. Night navigation facilities has been installed. Waterway is already operational.

4

NW 27

Cumberjua River (Cortalim-Ferry to Sao MartiasVidhanParisad) in Goa

17

NWs of Goa are operational under a Tripartite MoU with Govt. of Goa, Marmugao Port Authority & IWAI. Development of NWs in Goa at an estimated cost of INR 22.65 crore has commenced. Work for installation of 04 nos. floating Jetties amounting to Rs.11.33 crores on river Mandovi and river Chapora taken up. In addition a fund of Rs 6.84 Crore has been released to Mormugao Port Authority on 02.04.2022 for induction of navigational Aids.

5

NW 68

Mandovi River (Usgoan bridge to Arabian Sea) in Goa

41

6

NW 111

Zuari River (Sanvorden bridge to Marmugao Port) in Goa

50

7

NW 86

Rupnarayan River (Pratap Pur to Geonkhali) in West Bengal

72

Development of the waterway at an estimated cost of INR 24.00 crore has commenced. Improvement to road from NH to water front terminal at Kolaghat at a cost of Rs.15.45 crore is being executed by Irrigation Dept., Govt. of West Bengal on deposit basis. Floating pontoon jetty is under construction for facilitating loading and unloading of fly-ash cargo.  Permanent terminal is also proposed at Kolaghat for which land acquisition completed in June 2022 and development is considered through annual scheme.

 

8

NW 97

Sunderbans Waterway (Namkhana to AtharaBanki Khal) in West Bengal

172

Development of waterway at an estimated cost of INR 18.10 crore has commenced. Dredging work by department dredger is proposed. Waterway is part of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route and already operational for vessels.

9.

NW 40

River Ghagra (Ayodhya to Ghaghra-Ganga Confluence)

 

354

An amount of Rs. 11.60 cr. has been approved for fairway development by bandalling and day channel marking, creation of floating terminals and monthly surveys.

Scheme at a cost of Rs. 4.46 cr. has been sanctioned during 2021-22 for development under Phase-I of the waterway.

 

This information was given by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

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MJPS