Rs 500 Billion Investment Announced for Inland Waterways Development

14 Jan 2025 CW Team

The IWDC, organised by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), unveiled projects worth Rs 14 billion in 21 states. Among the key initiatives announced was the Riverine Community Development Scheme, aimed at boosting the socio-economic conditions of riverine communities through trade, tourism, skill development, and improved infrastructure along the waterways.

Key announcements:

Launch of 1,000 Green Vessels: Part of a strategy to promote sustainable transportation.

National River Traffic and Navigation System: Introduced to ensure seamless vessel movement and safety.

Expansion of River Cruise Tourism: Plans to establish 10 sea cruise terminals, 100 river cruise terminals, and five marinas under the "Cruise Bharat Mission."

Regional highlights:
Northeast India:

A Regional Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh was announced, alongside new tourist jetties and ship repair facilities in Assam.

Significant investments are allocated for the comprehensive development of waterways, including NW-2 and river Barak.

Andhra Pradesh:

Six floating steel jetties to be constructed on river Godavari (NW-4).

Feasibility studies for NW-79 and development plans for NW-4 were also announced.

Goa:

Ten community jetties and additional projects on major rivers were approved.

Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh:

New jetties and green vessels on rivers Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus for tourism and urban transportation were announced.

Uttar Pradesh:

Eight floating jetties in Mathura, two steel jetties in Ayodhya, and a ship repair facility in Ghazipur were revealed.

Growth in inland waterways:
Union Minister Sonowal emphasised that operational waterways have increased by 767% since 2014, with cargo volume on national waterways surging from 18 million tonnes a decade ago to 133 million tonnes in FY 2023-24. Key legislative reforms like the National Waterways Act 2016 and Inland Vessels Act 2021 have streamlined development and operations in this sector.
Jalvahak scheme:
The recently launched scheme, which incentivises long-haul cargo movement on rivers Ganga (NW-1), Brahmaputra (NW-2), and Barak (NW-16), is now being extended to additional states. The scheme aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of transforming India's transportation infrastructure.
The IWDC, established in 2023, continues to foster collaborative federalism, unlocking the economic potential of India's inland waterways and paving the way for sustainable growth and development.

(Pib.gov)

Your next big infra connection is waiting at RAHSTA 2025 – Asia’s Biggest Roads & Highways Expo, Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. Don’t miss out!

The Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) convened its second meeting under the leadership of Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, at Kohora, Kaziranga. The event witnessed significant announcements, including an investment of over Rs 500 billion over the next five years to enhance inland waterway infrastructure across India. The IWDC, organised by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), unveiled projects worth Rs 14 billion in 21 states. Among the key initiatives announced was the Riverine Community Development Scheme, aimed at boosting the socio-economic conditions of riverine communities through trade, tourism, skill development, and improved infrastructure along the waterways. Key announcements: Launch of 1,000 Green Vessels: Part of a strategy to promote sustainable transportation. National River Traffic and Navigation System: Introduced to ensure seamless vessel movement and safety. Expansion of River Cruise Tourism: Plans to establish 10 sea cruise terminals, 100 river cruise terminals, and five marinas under the Cruise Bharat Mission. Regional highlights: Northeast India: A Regional Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh was announced, alongside new tourist jetties and ship repair facilities in Assam. Significant investments are allocated for the comprehensive development of waterways, including NW-2 and river Barak. Andhra Pradesh: Six floating steel jetties to be constructed on river Godavari (NW-4). Feasibility studies for NW-79 and development plans for NW-4 were also announced. Goa: Ten community jetties and additional projects on major rivers were approved. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh: New jetties and green vessels on rivers Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus for tourism and urban transportation were announced. Uttar Pradesh: Eight floating jetties in Mathura, two steel jetties in Ayodhya, and a ship repair facility in Ghazipur were revealed. Growth in inland waterways: Union Minister Sonowal emphasised that operational waterways have increased by 767% since 2014, with cargo volume on national waterways surging from 18 million tonnes a decade ago to 133 million tonnes in FY 2023-24. Key legislative reforms like the National Waterways Act 2016 and Inland Vessels Act 2021 have streamlined development and operations in this sector. Jalvahak scheme: The recently launched scheme, which incentivises long-haul cargo movement on rivers Ganga (NW-1), Brahmaputra (NW-2), and Barak (NW-16), is now being extended to additional states. The scheme aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of transforming India's transportation infrastructure. The IWDC, established in 2023, continues to foster collaborative federalism, unlocking the economic potential of India's inland waterways and paving the way for sustainable growth and development. (Pib.gov)

Infrastructure Urban

30 Aug 2025

Delivering metals in 24 hours with AI

India’s metal supply chain has long struggled with delays, fragmentation and lack of transparency, forcing purchase teams to chase vendors and juggle uncertain stock. Enlight Metals is tackling these inefficiencies with an AI-powered aggregation platform, multilingual voice-enabled procurement and strategically located dark stores that enable 24-hour delivery – transforming how OEMs, EPCs and infrastructure players source their metals. In a conversation with CW, Dhananjay Goel, Director, and Vedant Goel, Director, shares how the company is reshaping procurement. What problem..

Infrastructure Urban

30 Aug 2025

Silvin's CPVC Additive Gets NSF® Certification for Safety

Silvin Additives, a prominent manufacturer of PVC and CPVC additives, has secured the NSF® Guideline 533 certification for its CPVC Super1Pack formulation. This certification affirms the additive’s compliance with stringent international health and safety standards for products intended for drinking water applications.Awarded by NSF, a globally respected public health and safety authority based in Michigan, United States, the certification is granted only after rigorous product testing and inspection. NSF® Guideline 533 specifically assesses the safety of chemical ingredients used in produ..

Infrastructure Urban

30 Aug 2025

Mitsubishi Halts Offshore Wind Projects in Japan

Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) has announced its decision to withdraw from three major offshore wind projects off the coast of Japan due to a significant shift in global business conditions. The projects were being developed through a consortium led by its subsidiary, Mitsubishi Corporation Offshore Wind Ltd., and were located off the shores of Noshiro City, Mitane Town, and Oga City in Akita Prefecture; Yurihonjo City in Akita Prefecture; and Choshi City in Chiba Prefecture.The company stated that following a review initiated in February 2025, it concluded the projects were no longer viable. The..