UP, IWAI Sign Over Rs 60 Billion MoUs to Boost Inland Waterways

28 Nov 2025 CW Team

Uttar Pradesh has accelerated its inland waterways expansion with a series of major agreements signed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) during India Maritime Week 2025. More than Rs 60 billion worth of MoUs were finalised to enhance National Waterway-1 (Ganga), focusing on river cruise tourism, cargo movement, ship repair infrastructure and clean-energy river transport. IWAI announced an investment push of Rs 13.5 billion dedicated to inland water transport and cruise infrastructure in the state.

Key commitments include agreements with Heritage River Journeys and Alaknanda Cruises to induct new vessels and expand cruise operations along NW-1, with over Rs 8 billion earmarked for tourism development. The state will also gain a new ship repair facility in Varanasi at an investment of Rs 3.5 billion, along with two new river cruise terminals costing Rs 2 billion. A Rs 1 billion MoU will facilitate electric charging infrastructure to support low-emission river mobility.

A landmark Rs 10 billion pact with Rhenus Logistics will introduce modern tug-barges on the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers to boost cargo capacity. Uttar Pradesh will further benefit from a Rs 2 billion Regional Centre of Excellence in Varanasi and Rs 15 billion allocated for dredging supervision under an MoU with IIT Madras. These initiatives position the state as a key node in India’s multimodal logistics and river tourism ecosystem.

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