The third edition of the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC 3.0) will convene on January 23, 2026, in Kochi, Kerala, as the government looks to build on recent gains and chart the next phase of growth for India’s Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector. The day-long meeting will focus on reviewing sectoral achievements, aligning Centre–State priorities and outlining a future-ready roadmap for inland waterways.

The session will be chaired by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and attended by Minister of State Shantanu Thakur, along with ministers and senior officials from various state governments. During the meeting, new initiatives aimed at accelerating the development of inland water transport across states are expected to be launched. Several State Support Agreements are also likely to be signed, reinforcing cooperative federalism in the execution of IWT projects.

The IWDC 3.0 agenda covers a wide spectrum of priorities, including the creation of resilient urban water transport systems, improvements in cargo transport efficiency, promotion of green vessels for passenger movement, expansion of river cruise tourism and the adoption of digital and sustainable practices. The Council will also review the existing regulatory framework and deliberate on concerns raised by states regarding ongoing and proposed projects.

India’s inland waterways network has emerged as a vital complement to congested road and rail corridors. With 111 National Waterways spread across 23 states and four union territories, 32 waterways are currently operational for cargo and passenger services. Annual cargo movement has surged from 18 million tonnes in 2013–14 to 145.84 million tonnes in 2024–25, while passenger traffic reached 70.64 million in 2024–25. This growth has been driven by initiatives such as the ‘Jalvahak’ Cargo Promotion Scheme and ‘Jal Samriddhi’, which encourage modal shift and private sector participation.

“Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the IWDC has become a truly collaborative national platform, bringing together policymakers and representatives of various state governments and concerned departments to shape the future of inland waterways. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has transformed IWDC into a catalyst for aligning Centre-State priorities, translating policy intent into actionable outcomes, and advancing a greener, more efficient transport ecosystem. By combining infrastructure development with sustainability and community participation, the Council is reviving India’s riverine heritage and repositioning inland waterways as a preferred mode of transport for cargo and passengers. In Kochi, we aim to consolidate the progress made since IWDC 1.0 in 2024 and IWDC 2.0 in 2025, accelerate project execution and scale green, technology-driven inland waterways in close partnership with states,” said Sunil Paliwal, Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India.