Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, a total of 111 waterways have been declared as National Waterways. Out of these 111 NWs, NWs-1, 2 and 3 are operational and cargo and passenger vessels are moving on them.  Development works under Phase-I have commenced on NW-4 in 2017.  The developments of these NWs are based on Detailed Project Reports.

Further, for development of NW-5, preparation of DPR including Front End Engineering Design (FEED) for the construction of weirs or barrages with navigational locks and check dams between Pankapal and Paradip or  Dhamra (Phase-I) has been sanctioned.

The Jal Marg Vikas Project has been commissioned with technical and financial assistance of the World Bank for the capacity augmentation of NW-1 (Ganga) from Haldia to Varanasi (1380 km).  The JMVP aims at developing the fairway to enable safe navigation of 1,500-2,000 ton vessels.  The project would be completed by 2022-23 at an estimated cost of Rs. 5,369 crores. 

 Out of the 106 newly declared NWs, 36 NWs are considered technically feasible, the list of the same is as follows:-

1.                  BARAK (NW-16)

2.                  MANDOVI (NW-68)

3.                  ZUARI (NW-111)

4.                  CUMBERJUA (NW-27)

5.                  GHAGHRA (NW-40)

6.                  GANDAK (NW-37)

7.                  KOSI (NW-58)

8.                  SUNDERBAN WATERWAYS (NW-97)

9.                  AJOY (AJAY) RIVER (NW-7)

10.              ICHAMATI RIVER (NW-44)

11.              RUPNARAYAN RIVER (NW-86)

12.              SUBARNREKHA RIVER (NW-96)

13.              SUBANSIRI RIVER (NW-95)

14.              BAITARNI RIVER (NW-14)

15.              MAHANADI RIVER (NW-64)

16.              ALAPPUZHA- CHANGANASSERY CANAL (NW8)

17.              ALAPPUZHA- KOTTAYAM – ATHIRAMPUZHA CANAL (NW-9)

18.              KOTTAYAM-VAIKOM CANAL (NW-59)

19.              GURUPUR RIVER (NW-43)

20.              KABINI RIVER (NW-51)

21.              KALI RIVER (NW-52)

22.              NETRAVATHI RIVER (NW-74)

23.              SHARAVATI RIVER (NW-90)

24.              CHAPORA RIVER (NW-25)

25.              MAPUSA - MOIDE RIVER (NW-71)

26.              AMBA RIVER (NW-10)

27.              DABHOL CREEK - VASHISHTI RIVER (NW-28)

28.              REVADANDA CREEK - KUNDALIKA RIVER (NW-85)

29.              SAVITRI RIVER (BANKOT CREEK) (NW-89)

30.              MAHI RIVER (NW-66)

31.              NARMADA RIVER (NW-73)

32.              TAPI RIVER (NW-100)

33.              YAMUNA (NW-110)

34.              JHELUM (NW-49)

35.              KALYAN – THANE – MUMBAI WATERWAY, VASAI CREEK & ULHAS RIVER (NW-53)

36.              TIZU / ZUNGKI RIVERS (NW-101)

This information was given by Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways and C&F Shri Mansukh L Mandaviya in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

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NP/MS