The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is planning a Rs 92 billion (bn) scheme to develop water metro systems across the country following a Budget push to promote sustainable transport. Draft guidelines from the ministry indicate the scheme will provide government support for water metro projects implemented through fully government-funded and public-private partnership (PPP) modes. The plan is framed as part of wider efforts to expand multimodal urban mobility and to offer alternatives to road and rail congestion.

The draft guidance states the scheme will run until 2036-2037 and sets out eligibility and operational criteria for prospective projects. It emphasises support for projects that can demonstrate viability under scheduled services and that can be developed under either full public funding or under PPP arrangements. The guidelines also outline that projects will be assessed on technical preparedness and long term sustainability.

The scheme will target regions with inherent geographic suitability, including the presence of navigable waterways and the availability of continuous or semi-continuous navigable circuits capable of supporting scheduled services. Attention will be paid to hydrological conditions that allow safe and reliable operations and to the manageability of seasonal variations that could affect service regularity. Project selection will therefore favour areas where natural and infrastructural conditions reduce operational risk.

Officials expect the initiative to encourage investment in vessels, terminals and navigation infrastructure while promoting integration with existing urban transport networks. The approach is intended to stimulate local economies, reduce travel times and offer lower carbon alternatives to short distance surface transport. Implementation will require coordination with state authorities and port agencies to align permits, safety standards and financing arrangements.

Further procedural steps are expected before final approval and rollout, with the ministry inviting stakeholders to refine operational and financing models. The scheme is presented as a medium term instrument to expand smart urban waterborne mobility across suitable regions.