WATERWAYS IN INDIA
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Context
- To promote inland water transport (IWT) in the country, 111 inland waterways spread over 24 states have been declared as National Waterways (NWs) under National Waterway Act, 2016.
- Based on the outcome of techno-economic feasibility and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of these NWs, action plan has been formulated by IWAI for 26 NWs found viable for cargo/passenger movement.
About National Waterways:
- India has a vast network of inland waterways that include river bodies, canals, backwaters and creeks.
- However, these inland waterways have been unutilised, as compared to other countries in the world.
- The National Waterways Act proposed 106 additional national waterways to the five national waterways declared earlier.
- The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is responsible for the timely execution of national waterways projects and to ensure improved water transportation in India.
- Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, 111 inland waterways (including five national waterways in India declared earlier) have been declared as ‘national waterways’.
The longest national waterway is the National Waterway 1 or the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system, running from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh to Haldia in West Bengal and covers a length of 1,620 kilometres. The first national waterways in India or the National Waterway 1 is the Ganga-Bhagirathi – Hooghly River System from Haldia to Allahabad. The Manimutharu River in Tamil Nadu or the National Waterway 69 is the shortest national waterway in India. |
LIST OF 26 NATIONAL WATERWAYS FOUND FEASIBLE FOR CARGO / PASSENGER MOVEMENT
National Waterway |
Details of Waterways |
STATES |
National Waterway 1 |
Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Haldia - Allahabad) |
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal |
National Waterway 2 |
Brahmaputra River (Dhubri - Sadiya) |
Assam |
National Waterway 16 |
Barak River |
Assam |
National Waterway 3 |
West Coast Canal (Kottapuram - Kollam), Champakara and Udyogmandal Canals |
Kerala |
National Waterway 4 |
Krishna River (Vijayawada – Muktyala) |
Andhra Pradesh |
National Waterway 5 |
Dhamra-Paradio via Mangalagadi to Pankopal |
Odisha |
National Waterway 8 |
Alappuzha- Changanassery Canal |
Kerala |
National Waterway 9 |
Alappuzha - Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal |
Kerala (Alternate route: 11.5km) |
National Waterway 27 |
Cumberjua River |
Goa |
National Waterway 68 |
Mandovi River |
Goa |
National Waterway 86 |
Rupnarayan River |
West Bengal |
National Waterway 97 |
Sunderbans Waterway |
West Bengal |
National Waterway 111 |
Zuari River |
Goa |
National Waterway 10 |
Amba River |
Maharashtra |
National Waterway 40 |
Ghagra River |
Bihar |
National Waterway 44 |
Ichamati River |
West Bengal |
National Waterway 52 |
Kali River |
Karnataka |
National Waterway 57 |
Kopili River |
Assam |
National Waterway 25 |
Chapora River |
Goa |
National Waterway 37 |
Gandak River |
Bihar |
National Waterway 28 |
Dabhol Creek Vasisti River |
Maharashtra |
National Waterway 73 |
Narmada River |
Maharashtra & Gujarat |
National Waterway 85 |
Revadanda Creek - Kundalika River System |
Maharashtra |
National Waterway 94 |
Sone River |
Bihar |
National Waterway 100 |
Tapi River |
Maharashtra & Gujarat |
National Waterway 31 |
Dhansiri River |
Assam |
About Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
- The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is responsible for the development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation.
- Launched in October 1986, the Noida-headquartered Authorityhas regional offices across different cities.
- It mainly undertakes projects for develqoping and maintaining the Inland Water Transport (IWT) infrastructure on national waterways through grants from the Shipping Ministry.
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1847361