Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
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DEVELOPMENT OF NEW WATERWAY CORRIDORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Posted On: 11 AUG 2026 3:50PM by PIB Delhi

To promote inland water transport in the country, 111 inland waterways across India have been declared as National Waterways (NWs) vide the National Waterways Act, 2016. As on date, 32 NWs are operational for the purpose of cargo and passenger movement. Further, in pursuance of the budget announcement for 2026-27 and based on studies, 19 additional new NWs have been identified predominantly for cruise tourism and passenger ferry operations over the next five years. Details of these NWs are given in the Annexure.

It has been the focus of the Government to first develop the already declared and feasible NWs for cargo and passenger transportation before declaration of new NWs in the country.

Annexure

 

National Waterway

State

FY 2026-27

 

NW-49 (Jhelum River), NW-26 (Chenab River) and NW-84 (Ravi River)

Jammu & Kashmir

NW-51 (Kabini River) and NW-90 (Sharavati River)

Karnataka

NW-88 (Sal River)

 

Goa

FY 2027-28

 

NW-52 (Kali River) and NW-41 (Ghataprabha River)

Karnataka

NW-22 (Birupa–Badi–Genguti–Brahmani System) and NW-96 (Subarnarekha River)

 

Odisha

FY 2028-29

 

NW-25 (Chapora River)

Goa

NW-13 (AVM Canal) and NW-59 (Kottayam–Vaikom Canal)

Kerala

FY 2029-30

 

NW-89 (Savitri River & Bankot Creek), NW-28 (Dabhol Creek–Vashishti River)

Maharashtra

NW-20 (Bhawani River)

Tamil Nadu

FY 2030-31

 

NW-98 (Sutlej River)

Himachal Pradesh & Punjab

NW-76 (Panchgangavali River)

Karnataka

NW-37 (Gandak River)

 

Uttar Pradesh

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

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MI/Indu


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