Centre Announces Incentives for Boosting Inland Waterway Transport

05 Dec 2024 CW Team

The Shipping Ministry of India has announced a Rs 1 billion scheme aimed at boosting inland waterways transport (IWT). The initiative includes incentives for launching Scheduled Services for Cargo Movement on National Waterways (NW) 1, 2, and 16.

In a note, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways stated that the IWT sector is still in its early stages and needs support to encourage a shift in cargo transport modes, alongside the development of necessary physical infrastructure.

The government's consideration of financial assistance for goods movement via inland waterways, as part of a strategy to leverage the country’s river, canal, and backwater networks for cargo transport.

Although waterway transport is inherently less expensive compared to other modes, the multimodal logistics involved often increase the overall cost.

To address this, the scheme offers a 35 per cent incentive to promote the use of inland waterways for cargo transport. Official estimates project that the initiative could redirect 800 million tonne-kilometres of cargo to IWT, supplementing the existing 4700 million tonne-kilometres already transported via waterways. The scheme will remain in effect for three years, with potential for scaling up or modification based on its outcomes.

The ministry also mentioned that the scheme is currently limited to NW-1, NW-2, and NW-16, including routes under the Indo-Bangladesh protocol, given the high potential for traffic growth in these areas. However, the scope of the scheme may be expanded to other waterways based on its success.

Real Estate

05 Sep 2025

Vitizen Hotels Signs Deal at Manyata Tech Park

Vikram Kamats Hospitality, as part of its ongoing expansion in key metropolitan markets, announced that its material subsidiary, Vitizen Hotels, has signed a long-term lease agreement for a 45-key hotel property at Manyata Tech Park, Bengaluru.Strategically located in the city’s prominent IT hub, the property is well-positioned to serve corporate travelers, business professionals, and long-stay guests. The addition aligns with the company’s asset-light growth model, leveraging long-term leases to expand its footprint in high-demand urban markets.The hotel is expected to strengthen the comp..

CONCOR Signs MoU with BPIPL to Operate Container Terminal at Bhavnagar Port

Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bhavnagar Port Infrastructure (BPIPL) on September 4, 2025, in New Delhi to operate and maintain the upcoming container terminal at the northside of Bhavnagar Port, Gujarat.BPIPL had earlier entered into an agreement with the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) in September 2024 for the port’s development. Under this arrangement, 235 hectares of land has been leased to BPIPL for 30 years, with provision for expansion by an additional 250 hectares.The new terminal is expected to significantly enhance logistic..

Concord Launches India’s First Indigenous Zero-Emission Rail Propulsion

Concord Control Systems (CCSL), a leader in embedded electronics and critical rail technologies, has announced the development of India’s first fully indigenous zero-emission propulsion system, marking a significant step toward the country’s railway electrification and net-zero goals for 2030.Powered by Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries and featuring a DC chopper-based drive, the propulsion system eliminates idling losses common in diesel engines, offering higher efficiency, lower costs, and zero emissions.What sets this innovation apart is its completely indigenous design. Except for..