Inland Waterways Authority of India

April 27, 2026 5:47 PM

India accelerates inland waterways push with record cargo growth and expansion plans

India is steadily transforming its vast network of rivers, canals and backwaters into a modern, efficient and sustainable transport backbone, with inland waterways emerging as a key pillar of the country’s logistics and economic strategy. Backed by strong policy support and rising investments, the sector is witnessing rapid growth in cargo movement, infrastructure development and tourism potential. With 111 National Waterways spanning 20,187 kilometres across 23 states and four Union Territor...

March 25, 2026 1:53 PM

1,500 MT high-value cargo transported to Pandu via inland waterways

A high-value cargo consignment of around 1,500 metric tonnes has been successfully transported from Kolkata to Pandu in Guwahati via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route, underscoring the growing efficiency of inland waterways in India. The shipment, dispatched by Tata Steel Limited for Larsen & Toubro Limited, comprised 23,980 bags of granulated blast furnace slag weighing approximately 1,199 metric tonnes, along with 300 metric tonnes of TMT bars. The cargo was transported using tug MV Tri...

November 21, 2025 7:57 PM

IWAI inks MoUs worth ₹3,000 crore to boost inland waterways and logistics in Northeast

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) on Friday signed a series of major agreements valued at about ₹3,000 crore to boost cargo movement, passenger transport and river-based tourism in the Northeast. The MoUs were inked during India Maritime Week 2025. The two primary MoUs were signed with Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd. (APL) and the Government of Assam to strengthen Assam’s inland water transport network and logistics ecosystem. Under the first agreement, IWAI and APL will collaborat...

October 17, 2025 4:52 PM

India’s rivers are highways of progress: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday described India’s rivers as “highways of progress,” highlighting the country’s ongoing efforts to transform waterways into key components of national logistics and tourism infrastructure. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “India’s rivers are not just symbols of heritage, they are highways of progress!” He also shared an article by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, which focuses on India’s rejuvenated...

May 27, 2025 12:17 PM

India targets 76 operational waterways by 2027, eyes expansion to 23 states, 4 UTs: Sonowal

The government has set a target to operationalise 76 waterways by 2027, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced during a Consultative Committee meeting on Inland Waterways Transport held in Mumbai on Monday. Chairing the meeting, Sonowal also projected that cargo traffic is expected to grow significantly to 156 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by March 2026, inching closer to the Maritime India Vision 2030 target of 200 MTPA. The Inland Waterways Authorit...

April 16, 2025 3:17 PM

Cargo traffic on National Waterways hits record high of 145.5 million tonnes in FY 2024-25

Cargo movement on National Waterways reached a record high of 145.5 million tonnes (MMT) in FY 2024–25, while the number of operational waterways increased from 24 to 29, marking a major milestone for the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). Under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, IWAI’s performance reflects significant growth in the inland water transport (IWT) sector during the fiscal year. Cargo traffic on National Waterways has increased from 18.10 MMT in FY 2013–...

February 28, 2025 3:26 PM

National Waterways Regulations to unlock new opportunities for private sector in inland waterways development

In a significant move to enhance infrastructure and attract private sector investment, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has introduced new regulations to streamline processes and promote efficient use of India’s vast waterways network. The National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025, formulated by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), aim to open new opportunities for private entities to participate in the development of inland water...