Government has sanctioned significant investment of Rs. 6833.46 Crore during last 5 years to enhance infrastructure along national waterways as detailed.

DETAILS OF INVESTMENT SANTIONED ON WATERWAYS DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS:

Sl.	Name of Project	Amount (Crore)
1	Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP-I & II) from Varanasi-Haldia stretch on NW-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System) in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal	5061.15
2	8 Nos. Hybrid Electric Catamaran (Green inland vessels)	144.00
3	Comprehensive Development of NW-2 (River Brahmaputra from Bangladesh Border to Dhubri to Sadiya) in Assam	498.38
4	Development of Approach Road from Pandu Port Terminal to NH-27 and Ship Repair Facility at Pandu, Guwahati	419.00
5	Comprehensive Development of NW-16	134.72
7	Development of 23 NW's (Phase-1)	266.09
8	Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for inland waterway infrastructure projects in NER	100.00
9.	Misc. projects	210.22

 

The development of National Waterways, being an alternate and supplementary mode of transportation, can improve transportation efficiency and promote economic growth in the regions.

Under the Jal Marg Vikas Project, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), an autonomous organisation under Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways has taken up construction of 60 Community Jetties for socio-economic benefits of the farmers, fishing and local communities residing along the river Ganga (National Waterway-1) in the State of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Apart from this, floating jetties/terminals have been constructed along other National Waterways across the country to facilitate the communities living around these rivers.

IWAI has placed order on Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for construction of eight hybrid electric catamaran. In addition, one hydrogen fuelled vessel constructed by CSL has been handed over to IWAI and deployed at Varanasi.

Development of Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector has the potential for creating job opportunities and promote skill development in various areas, including river cruise tourism, vessel design/operations, terminal construction and operation, maintenance dredging, fairway development, navigation aids, river engineering, hydrology etc.

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

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SR/GDH/SB

(Release ID: 2151380)