Govt to develop 23 river systems to utilise inland waterways for cargo, passenger vessel movement

• Out of 111 national waterways 23 river systems have been identified as feasible for navigation.
• The aim is to utilise inland waterways to improve cargo and passenger vessels movement at cheap transportation cost.

About National Waterways

• National Waterways (NWs) are declared under National Waterways Act, 2016 to promote Inland Water Transport (IWT) in India.
• Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Allahabad to Haldia) was first NW declared in 1986.
• Recently, NW-68 between Panjim to Vasco on Mandovi River in Goa was completed.
• India has an extensive network of inland waterways in the form of rivers, canals, backwaters and creeks.
• Inland waterways contribute only around 2% in India’s internal freight movement.
• Benefits- Eco-friendly and cheaper (less fuel consumption per tonne-km), better connectivity to hinterland, require relatively less maintenance, reduced pollution of air, water, noise etc.
• Challenges: Absence of storage facilities, limited number of vessels, inadequate inland ports and logistics system, low technology adaptation etc.
• Initiatives for Inland Waterways Development
  • Establishment of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) in 1986.
  • Inland Vessels Act, 2021 replaces Inland Vessels Act, 1917.
  • River Cruise Tourism on NWs.
  • PANI (Portal for Asset & Navigation Information) platform for river navigation and infrastructure information.