WATERWAYS IN INDIA

Description

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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.