National River Traffic and Navigation System (NRT&NS)

The National River Traffic and Navigation System (NRT&NS) was launched during the 2nd meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC).

• NRT&NS aims to enhance the safety and efficiency of inland waterway transport by leveraging real-time data and technology for optimized navigation on India’s National Waterways.
• Key features of NRT&NS include real-time monitoring using GPS and GIS for safe vessel navigation, centralized traffic control centers for efficient operations, and digital platforms for route planning, cargo tracking, and alerts.
• The system is being deployed across India’s National Waterways, including NW-1 (River Ganga) and NW-2 (River Brahmaputra). 
• The Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC), established in 2023, serves as an apex platform for policy deliberation to promote inland waterways in India.
• India has declared 111 waterways as National Waterways (NWs) under the National Waterways Act, 2016, with significant ones being NW-1 (Haldia – Prayagraj on Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System) and NW-2 (Dhubri – Sadiya on River Brahmaputra). 
• The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), established through the IWAI Act, 1985, is responsible for the regulation and development of NWs.
• India possesses approximately 14,500 km of navigable waterways, including rivers, canals, backwaters, and creeks, offering significant potential for inland water transport.