IWDC 3.0 to Map Next Growth Phase for India’s Inland Waterways

23 Jan 2026 CW Team

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.

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.

Infrastructure Urban

10 Mar 2026

ABB to Invest Rs 6.25 Billion to Expand India Manufacturing

ABB recently announced plans to invest approximately Rs 6.25 billion ($75 million) in India during 2026 to expand its manufacturing footprint and research and development capabilities. The investment follows more than $35 million spent in 2025 and reflects the company’s continued focus on strengthening its ‘local-for-local’ strategy in the country.The investment will support ABB’s Electrification, Motion and Automation businesses and expand manufacturing capacity for infrastructure sectors such as renewable energy, metro rail, data centres and industrial applications. Approximately 300..

Equipment

10 Mar 2026

Six WOLFF Cranes Handle 60,000 m³ Concrete for German Hospital

Six WOLFF tower cranes are playing a key role in constructing a new hospital complex in Memmingen, Germany, supporting large-scale material handling for the project. The facility is being built on a 7.7-hectare site and will feature six floors, around 480 beds and a gross floor area exceeding 75,000 sq m.Building shell works began recently in February 2025. One WOLFF 6531.12 Cross crane supported early site preparation before being dismantled in autumn 2025, while five remaining cranes continue operations. Over an average deployment period of 16 months, the cranes are expected to move approxim..

Equipment

10 Mar 2026

REC Funds Rs 115.6 Million CSR Support for Bihar Eye Hospital

REC recently committed Rs 115.6 million under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme for the procurement of clinical and non-clinical equipment at Sankara Eye Hospital in Saharsa, Bihar. The initiative aims to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve access to specialised eye care services in the region.A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was recently signed between Pradeep Fellows, Executive Director (CSR), REC Limited, and Wg Cdr V. Shankar (Retd), Trustee and Executive Director of Sankara Eye Hospital, at the REC office in the SCOPE Complex, New Delhi.The support is expecte..