25 National Waterways found fit for cargo or passenger movement

This identification is the result of techno-economic feasibility and detailed project report on National Waterways carried out by IWAI as part of the exercise to identify and develop stretches of waterways that can be used for both cargo and passengers. Can be developed into full-fledged economic corridors that facilitate movement.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in its endeavor to promote inland water transport in the country, has declared 111 waterways (5 existing and 106 new) as National Waterways (NWs) under the National Waterways Act, 2016.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, the Ministry explained in detail the plans made by the government for better and effective inland water transport in the country. Development work is already underway in 13 out of 25 NWs.

The ministry has also taken other initiatives for development of traffic on national waterways, including revision of levy and collection of duty, increase in regional trade using IWT model, standards to facilitate stakeholders to use inland water transport. Involves using operating procedures (SPOs). Get access to information related to the NW and Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax service for National Waterways, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February of 2021.

Inland waterways development projects are sustainable and effective. Cargo movement on NWs has shown a growth of 13 per cent in 2020-21 as compared to 2019-20.

The ministry also suggested digital solutions for ease of doing business, such as the CAR-D (Cargo Data) portal. It is a web-based portal for the collection and compilation, analysis and dissemination of all cargo and cruise movement data of NW to the stakeholders.

Portal for Water or Property and Navigation Information is an integrated solution that compiles river navigation and infrastructure information on a single platform.

The portal provides detailed information about the characteristics of national waterways and assets such as fairways, infrastructure, cross-river structures and emergency services to facilitate the transportation of goods.

These solutions help increase the collaboration of individual stakeholders, improve organizational stability, increase resource agility, and increase accountability for each stakeholder, thereby improving the management of activities.