Infrastructure and Logistical Capabilities of Waterways
PORTS & SHIPPING

Infrastructure and Logistical Capabilities of Waterways

To enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of cargo transportation, including food grains and essential commodities to remote and underserved areas, 111 National Waterways (NWs) were declared under the National Waterways Act, 2016. Several initiatives have been introduced to promote Inland Water Transport (IWT) and strengthen the sector’s infrastructure.

A scheme offering a 35% incentive has been approved to encourage cargo owners to utilise inland waterways and establish scheduled cargo services on NW-1, NW-2, and NW-16 via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route. Additionally, the National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations 2025 has been notified, providing a structured regulatory framework for private sector investment in inland waterways infrastructure.

To facilitate a modal shift towards waterway transportation, more than 140 Public Sector Units have been approached to integrate Inland Water Transport into their logistics strategy. These organisations have been requested to assess their current cargo movement and outline their plans for adopting waterway transport.

Fairway maintenance activities, including river training, maintenance dredging, channel marking, and regular hydrographic surveys, are being carried out across various National Waterways. On NW-1 (River Ganga), 49 community jetties, 20 floating terminals, three Multi-Modal Terminals (MMTs), and one Inter-Modal Terminal (IMT) have been developed, complementing five pre-existing permanent terminals.

On NW-3 (West Coast Canal in Kerala), nine permanent Inland Water Transport terminals equipped with storage facilities and two Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax terminals have been established, further enhancing the region’s waterway logistics capabilities.

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

To enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of cargo transportation, including food grains and essential commodities to remote and underserved areas, 111 National Waterways (NWs) were declared under the National Waterways Act, 2016. Several initiatives have been introduced to promote Inland Water Transport (IWT) and strengthen the sector’s infrastructure. A scheme offering a 35% incentive has been approved to encourage cargo owners to utilise inland waterways and establish scheduled cargo services on NW-1, NW-2, and NW-16 via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route. Additionally, the National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations 2025 has been notified, providing a structured regulatory framework for private sector investment in inland waterways infrastructure. To facilitate a modal shift towards waterway transportation, more than 140 Public Sector Units have been approached to integrate Inland Water Transport into their logistics strategy. These organisations have been requested to assess their current cargo movement and outline their plans for adopting waterway transport. Fairway maintenance activities, including river training, maintenance dredging, channel marking, and regular hydrographic surveys, are being carried out across various National Waterways. On NW-1 (River Ganga), 49 community jetties, 20 floating terminals, three Multi-Modal Terminals (MMTs), and one Inter-Modal Terminal (IMT) have been developed, complementing five pre-existing permanent terminals. On NW-3 (West Coast Canal in Kerala), nine permanent Inland Water Transport terminals equipped with storage facilities and two Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax terminals have been established, further enhancing the region’s waterway logistics capabilities. This information was provided by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

Next Story
Technology

Building Faster, Smarter, and Greener!

Backed by ULCCS’s century-old legacy, U-Sphere combines technology, modular design and sustainable practices to deliver faster and more efficient projects. In an interaction with CW, Rohit Prabhakar, Director - Business Development, shares how the company’s integrated model of ‘Speed-Build’, ‘Smart-Build’ and ‘Sustain-Build’ is redefining construction efficiency, quality and environmental responsibility in India.U-Sphere positions itself at the intersection of speed, sustainability and smart design. How does this translate into measurable efficiency on the ground?At U..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Smart Roads, Smarter India

India’s infrastructure boom is not only about laying more kilometres of highways – it’s about building them smarter, safer and more sustainably. From drones mapping fragile Himalayan slopes to 3D machine-controlled graders reducing human error, technology is steadily reshaping the way projects are planned and executed. Yet, the journey towards digitisation remains complex, demanding not just capital but also coordination, training and vision.Until recently, engineers largely depended on Survey of India toposheets and traditional survey methods like total stations or DGPS to prepare detai..

Next Story
Real Estate

What Does DCPR 2034 Mean?

The Maharashtra government has eased approval norms for high-rise buildings under DCPR 2034, enabling the municipal commissioner to sanction projects up to 180 m on large plots. This change is expected to streamline approvals, reduce procedural delays and accelerate redevelopment, drawing reactions from developers, planners and industry experts about its implications for Mumbai’s vertical growth.Under the revised DCPR 2034 rules, buildings on plots of 2,000 sq m or more can now be approved up to 180 m by the municipal commissioner, provided structural and geotechnical reports are certified b..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?