India plans to invest 350 billion by 2047 to build a network of canals

16 Jan 2023 CW Team

According to Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), India plans to invest INR 350 billion by 2047 to build a network of waterways across the nation.

Creating waterways and jetties will be part of the strategy that will be put into action over the next 25 years in order to increase the capacity of Indian rivers for navigation. The world’s longest river cruise covers two national waterways (NWs) and travels into Bangladesh, according to Bandopadhyay. “This cruise will go more than 3,200 km along Routes NW1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi- Hooghly), IBP Route 1, and NW2 (Brahmaputra). This serves to further solidify the decision that this route is ready for the transportation of both passengers and freight,” said Bandopadhyay.

It is the first river cruise to link Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. It starts in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and ends in Dibrugarh (Assam). 32 visitors from Switzerland will be transported on the inaugural flight. The MV Ganga Vilas is scheduled to arrive in Dibrugarh on March 1, 2023. “Such river trips will be offered on 150 vessels over 80 circuits. By 2047, it would require an estimated 350 billion in investment,” he added. The majority of this capital investment will go into creating jetties and waterways to improve river navigation for larger ships.

A circuit is a path that travels past popular tourist attractions in separate and distinct locations. For river cruise operations on the IBP route, the IWAI has already designated the Mongla, Barisal, and Narayanganj circuits. According to Bandopadhyay, the private sector will be motivated to make this investment because there is a good chance that the costs will be recouped. Speaking of the future, he predicted that more of these services would start, along with plans to improve river cruises in India’s southern backwaters.

Building Material

11 Mar 2026

Enlight Metals Launches Waste Free Steel Procurement Model

Enlight Metals has introduced its Waste Free Steel (WFS) initiative, aimed at transforming steel procurement through precision-driven sourcing and advanced material planning. The programme seeks to reduce steel wastage by 8–10 per cent in infrastructure and EPC projects by shifting procurement practices from volume-based buying to drawing-based supply aligned with engineering requirements.The initiative is powered by Enlight Metals’ Agentic AI–enabled metal procurement platform, which enables project teams to submit technical drawings and material specifications for detailed analysis. Ba..

Magicbricks, NAREDCO Partner for Data-Driven Real Estate Insights

Magicbricks has entered into a strategic partnership with the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) to strengthen data-driven engagement across India’s real estate ecosystem. The collaboration aims to promote research-led discussions, structured policy dialogue and wider dissemination of credible market insights across the sector.The agreement, formalised through a one-year Memorandum of Understanding, positions Magicbricks as the Knowledge Partner and Official Broadcast Partner for NAREDCO initiatives. Through its digital platform MBTV, Magicbricks will broadcast NAREDCO events..

Nuuk Partners Zetwerk to Boost Make in India Manufacturing

Nuuk, a rapidly growing direct-to-consumer home appliance brand, has entered into a multi-year strategic manufacturing partnership with Zetwerk to strengthen its Make in India manufacturing ecosystem. The collaboration is aimed at developing scalable, high-quality and cost-competitive production capabilities as the company expands its product portfolio.As part of the partnership, Sanjiv Rangrass, Non-Executive Independent Director at Zetwerk, has been appointed as Nuuk’s Make-in-India Advisor. The appointment is expected to bring strategic manufacturing expertise to support the brand’s loc..