(a) the details of various schemes and projects implemented by the Government to improve inland water transport in the country;
(b) whether a special scheme to enhance the logistical capability in the waterways of Kerala and Lakshadweep has been initiated by the Government; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
(a) To promote inland water transport in the country as an economical, environment friendly supplementary mode of transport to rail and road, 111 inland waterways (including 5 National Waterways declared earlier) have been declared under the National Waterways Act, 2016. The details of projects undertaken on these National Waterways is given at Annex-1.
(b) &(c) West Coast Canal from Kottapuram to Kollam along with Champakara & Udyogmandal canal in Kerala is NW-3 having total length of 205 km (further extended by 165 km from Kottapuram to Kozhikode by the National Waterways Act, 2016). Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has already constructed nine permanent terminals (Kerala) on NW-3 viz., Kottapuram, Aluva, Maradu, Vaikkom, Thanneermukkom, Thrikkunnapuzha, Alapuzha, Kayamkulam and Kollam with cargo storing and loading/ unloading crane/ equipments. In addition, there are two terminals at Bolghatty & Willingdon island in the Cochin Port Trust limit for container traffic through Ro-Ro / Lo-Lo service. There is no National Waterway in the U.T. of Lakshadweep.
Annex.-1
Details of Project/ activities undertaken on National Waterways
(i) National Waterway-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system from Allahabad (now Prayagraj) to Haldia), National Waterway-2 (River Brahmaputra from Dhubri to Sadiya), National Waterway-3 (West Coast Canal from Kottapuram to Kollam along with Udyogmandal and Champakara Canals) have already been developed with fairway navigation aids, jetties and terminals with mechanized equipment handling facilities for loading and unloading of cargo. These waterways are operational and vessels are plying on these National Waterways.
(ii)The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) for capacity augmentation of navigation on the Haldia – Varanasi stretch of National Waterway-1 (NW-1) is being implemented at an estimated cost of Rs. 5,369.18 crore with the technical and financial assistance of the World Bank. Projects worth Rs. 1800 crore (approx.) have commenced on ground in a time period of three years after statutory clearances.
(iii) In NW-4 on the Vijayawada – Muktyala stretch of river Krishna, fairway development works and construction of terminals are in progress at a cost of Rs. 96 crore.
(iv) Development activities have been undertaken in 10 new National Waterways as given here under:-
List of 10 NWs on which development activities initiated.
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Name of the Waterway Status
1. River Barak (NW-16) Development works at a cost of Rs. 76.01 crore for Phase-1 from Silchar to Bhanga has commenced. This includes maintenance dredging, upgradation of terminals at Badarpur and Karimganj. Waterway is operational with limited infrastructure facility.
2. River Gandak (NW-37) Development work at a cost of Rs. 12.91 crore including fairway maintenance work has commenced. Waterway is operational with limited infrastructure facility.
Waterways in Goa
3. NW-27-Cumberjua
4. NW 68 – Mandovi
5. NW 111 – Zuari Work is proposed to be executed through Government of Goa with the assistance of Mormugao Port Trust. A Tripartite MoU has been signed for the commencement of works. Development works at an estimated cost of Rs. 22.65 crore has commenced. NWs of Goa are operational.
6. Alappuzha – Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal (NW-9) : Development of the waterway at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.60 crore has commenced. Night navigation facilities has been procured and installed. Dredging is proposed departmentally. Waterway is already operational for ferry services.
7. River Rupnarayan (NW-86) Development works on the waterway at an estimated cost of Rs. 24.00 crore has commenced. Work has been awarded for setting up of floating terminal. Tendering for dredging is at an advanced stage. Waterway is operational.
8. Sunderbans Waterways (NW-97) Development works on waterway at an estimated cost of Rs. 18.10 crore has commenced. Dredging work is in progress. Waterway is part of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route and already operational for vessels.
9. River Kosi (NW-58) Project sanctioned for Rs. 15.68 crore to develop the waterway with minimum required infrastructure (bandalling, channel marking, floating terminals and conducting monthly survey etc.). Tender for river conservancy works and floating pontoon facility are in progress for making the waterway operational.
10. River Ghagra (NW-40) An amount of Rs. 11.60 crore has been approved for fairway development by bandalling and day channel marking, creation of floating terminals and monthly surveys. Tender for river conservancy works and floating pontoon facility are in progress for making the waterway operational.
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