The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is hosting a consultative workshop in Patna on 16 June 2025 to advance inland waterways transport on National Waterway 1 (NW1) under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP). This is the first such workshop in Bihar, marking a significant move to position Patna as a future hub for inland water transport.

The high-level inter-ministerial event will be chaired by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, with participation from Union Textiles Minister Shri Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for Shipping Shri Shantanu Thakur, Bihar's Water Resources Minister Vijay Chaudhury, Transport Minister Sheela Kumari, and Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh. Senior technocrats, policymakers, and experts from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal will also attend.

The workshop will assess 11 years of progress in cargo movement along the Ganga across these states and explore new strategies to accelerate regional trade and hinterland connectivity.

IWAI Chairman Vijay Kumar (IAS) highlighted that Patna’s role as host reflects its growing importance in the Varanasi-Haldia stretch of NW1. The workshop aims to align policy with technical discussions, unlocking opportunities for cargo and passenger movement that could fuel economic development across eastern India.

The Jal Marg Vikas Project has been instrumental in reviving the navigational potential of the Ganga, with interventions including fairway development, construction of multimodal terminals, navigational locks, community jetties, and modern navigational aids. These efforts are transforming inland water transport into a sustainable, efficient, and commercially viable mode for both cargo and passengers.