New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: To promote Inland Water Transport (IWT) in the country, 111 waterways, including 5 existing and 106 new, spread over 24 states have been declared as National Waterways under the National Waterways Act, 2016.
In Odisha, Dhamra-Paradip via Mangalagadi to Pankopal with a length of 233 km has been declared NW 5, which is viable for cargo and also passenger movement.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
Based on the outcome of techno-economic feasibility and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of the NWs, 26 NWs have been found viable for cargo/passenger movement.
| Sl. No | NW | Details of Waterways | Length (Km) | STATES |
| 1 | NW 1 | Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Haldia – Allahabad) | 1620 | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal |
| 2 | NW 2 | Brahmaputra River (Dhubri – Sadiya) | 891 | Assam |
| 3 | NW 16 | Barak River (Lakhipur -Tuker Gram) | 121 | Assam |
| 4 | NW 3 | West Coast Canal (Kottapuram – Kollam), Champakara and Udyogmandal Canals | 205 | Kerala |
| 5 | NW 4 | Krishna River (Vijayawada – Muktyala) | 82 | Andhra Pradesh |
| 6 | NW 5 | Dhamra-Paradip via Mangalagadi to Pankopal | 233 | Odisha |
| 7 | NW 8 | Alappuzha- Changanassery Canal | 29 | Kerala |
| 8 | NW 9 | Alappuzha – Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal | 40 | Kerala (Alternate route: 11.5km) |
| 9 | NW 27 | Cumberjua River (Cortalim-Ferry to Sao MartiasVidhanParisad) | 17 | Goa |
| 10 | NW 68 | Mandovi River (Usgoan bridge to Arabian Sea) | 41 | Goa |
| 11 | NW 86 | Rupnarayan River (Pratap Pur to Geonkhali) | 72 | West Bengal |
| 12 | NW 97 | Sunderbans Waterway (Namkhana to AtharaBanki Khal) | 172 | West Bengal |
| 13 | NW 111 | Zuari River (Sanvorden bridge to Marmugao Port) | 50 | Goa |
| 14 | NW 40 | Ghagra River (Faizabad to ManjhiGhat) | 345 | Bihar & U.P. |
| 15 | NW 10 | Amba River (Arabian Sea, Dharamtaar Creek to Nagothane ST Stand) | 45 | Maharashtra |
| 16 | NW 44 | Ichamati River (Bridge at Gobra to Bansjhari near Bangladesh Border) | 63 | West Bengal |
| 17 | NW 52 | Kali River (Kodasalli Dam to Sadashivgad Bridge, Arabian Sea) | 53 | Karnataka |
| 18 | NW 57 | Kopili River (Banthai Gaon Tinali Bus Stop to Chandrapur No.2 confluence with Brahmaputra) | 50 | Assam |
| 19 | NW 25 | Chapora River (Bridge near Maneri village to Morjim, Arabian Sea) | 25 | Goa |
| 20 | NW 37 | Gandak River (Bhaisalotal Barrage to Hazipur) | 296 | Bihar & U.P. |
| 21 | NW 28 | Dabhol Creek Vasisti River (Arabian Sea at Dabhol to Bridge at Pedhe) | 45 | Maharashtra |
| 22 | NW 73 | Narmada River (Pandhariya to Gulf of Khambhat) | 226 | Maharashtra & Gujarat |
| 23 | NW 85 | Revadanda Creek – Kundalika River System (Arabian Sea at Revadanda to Bridge near Roha Nagar) | 31 | Maharashtra |
| 24 | NW 94 | Sone River (Sone Barrage, Dehri to Confluence with the Ganga) | 141 | Bihar |
| 25 | NW 100 | Tapi River (Hatnur Dam to Gulf of Khambhat) | 436 | Maharashtra & Gujarat |
| 26 | NW 31 | Dhansiri River (Morongi T.E. village Bridge to Numaligarh) | 110 | Assam |
To promote inland waterways as a supplementary, eco-friendly and cheaper mode of transport, waterway usage charges levied by the IWAI on vessels moving on National Waterways have been waived in July 2020, initially for a period of three years.
In addition to the pre-2016 existing 5 NWs, the development of 9 new NWs for the promotion of inland shipping has been taken up.
The details of projects initiated on the 09 new national waterways:
| Sl. No | NW | Details of Waterways/States | Length (Km) | Projects started |
| 1 | NW 16 | Barak River (Lakhipur -Tuker Gram) in Assam | 121 | Development of NW 16 and IBP route at a cost of Rs 145 crore during 2020-21 to 2024-25 was approved by SFC. Declared as National Waterway-16 (NW-16), Barak River connects Silchar, Karimganj and Badarpur in Cacher valley of Assam through road/waterway with Haldia and Kolkata ports through Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) Route. There are 10 activities as approved by SFC for NW-16 & IBP route. Out of these 10 activities, 03 are of permanent nature viz, (1) Construction of Terminal at Sonamura on Gumti river, (2) Construction of terminal at Maia on Ganga River and (3) Upgradation of Badarpur and Karimganj terminals, which are in consideration. The remaining 07 activities are of recurring nature viz., (1) Fairway development (2) O&M of navigational aids (3) Consultancy training (4) cargo promotion, and (5) amenities at Ports of Call etc. These activities are carried out on annual maintenance basis under implementation at 2.55% progress till October 2022. |
| 2 | NW 8 | Alappuzha- Changanassery Canal in Kerala | 29 | Development proposed as per DPR recommendations. 24 hours navigational aids (15 nos.) provided at critical locations and being maintained. |
| 3 | NW 9 | Alappuzha – Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal in Kerala | 40 | Development of the waterway at an estimated cost of INR 1.60 crore has commenced. Night navigation facilities has been installed. Waterway is already operational. |
| 4 | NW 27 | Cumberjua River (Cortalim-Ferry to Sao MartiasVidhanParisad) in Goa | 17 | NWs of Goa are operational under a Tripartite MoU with Govt. of Goa, Marmugao Port Authority & IWAI. Development of NWs in Goa at an estimated cost of INR 22.65 crore has commenced. Work for installation of 04 nos. floating Jetties amounting to Rs.11.33 crores on river Mandovi and river Chapora taken up. In addition a fund of Rs 6.84 Crore has been released to Mormugao Port Authority on 02.04.2022 for induction of navigational Aids. |
| 5 | NW 68 | Mandovi River (Usgoan bridge to Arabian Sea) in Goa | 41 | |
| 6 | NW 111 | Zuari River (Sanvorden bridge to Marmugao Port) in Goa | 50 | |
| 7 | NW 86 | Rupnarayan River (Pratap Pur to Geonkhali) in West Bengal | 72 | Development of the waterway at an estimated cost of INR 24.00 crore has commenced. Improvement to road from NH to water front terminal at Kolaghat at a cost of Rs.15.45 crore is being executed by Irrigation Dept., Govt. of West Bengal on deposit basis. Floating pontoon jetty is under construction for facilitating loading and unloading of fly-ash cargo. Permanent terminal is also proposed at Kolaghat for which land acquisition completed in June 2022 and development is considered through annual scheme. |
| 8 | NW 97 | Sunderbans Waterway (Namkhana to AtharaBanki Khal) in West Bengal | 172 | Development of waterway at an estimated cost of INR 18.10 crore has commenced. Dredging work by department dredger is proposed. Waterway is part of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route and already operational for vessels. |
| 9. | NW 40 | River Ghagra (Ayodhya to Ghaghra-Ganga Confluence) |
354 |
An amount of Rs. 11.60 cr. has been approved for fairway development by bandalling and day channel marking, creation of floating terminals and monthly surveys.
Scheme at a cost of Rs. 4.46 cr. has been sanctioned during 2021-22 for development under Phase-I of the waterway.
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