(a) the steps taken to promote inland navigation in the country;
(b) the reasons for the delay to tap has very vast opportunities in the sector;
(c) whether any State Government has demanded more inland navigation routes; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken in this regard?
(a) & (b) To promote Inland Water Transport in the country 111 waterways have been declared as National Waterways (NWs) under the National Waterways Act, 2016 which came into effect from 12th April, 2016 after duly incorporating suggestions of State Governments.
The Feasibility Study (FS) and the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of 106 NWs have been completed. After detailed analysis of the outcomes and recommendations of the FS/ DPRs, inputs from stakeholders, 106 NWs have been categorized into following three categories:-
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1. Category ‘A’: Feasible NWs with Cargo 18 NWs
2. Category ‘B’: Feasible NWs with only Tourism potential/ Ferry/Cruise 25 NWs
3. Category ‘C’: NWs not feasible for Cargo/ Cruise 63 NWs
Total 106 NWs
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Based on the outcome of techno-economic feasibility and DPRs prepared for NWs, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has concluded that 23 NWs are viable for cargo movement out of which developmental activities have been taken up/ initiated in 13 viable NWs. The list of the 23 NWs and the action plan for their development is at Annex-I.
(c) & (d) Suggestions/demands for inland navigation routes to be declared as national waterways had been included in the National Waterways Act, 2016 after due deliberations with State Governments and further based on techno-economic feasibility and viability studies.
Annex-I
LIST OF 23 NATIONAL WATERWAYS FOUND FEASIBLE FOR CARGO MOVEMENT
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Sl.No. National Waterway No. Details of Waterways STATES Status
1 National Waterway 1 Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Haldia - Allahabad) Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal Development taken up with Assistance from World Bank Jal Marg Vikas Project
2 National Waterway 2 Brahmaputra River (Dhubri - Sadiya) Assam Development taken up as per approved SFC for FY 20-21 to 2024-25
3 National Waterway 16 Barak River Assam
4 National Waterway 3 West Coast Canal (Kottapuram - Kollam), Champakara and Udyogmandal Canals Kerala Mostly Operational Waterways and development and maintenance work taken up.
5 National Waterway 4 Krishna River (Vijayawada – Muktyala) Andhra Pradesh
6 National Waterway 5 Dhamra-Paradio via Mangalagadi to Pankopal Odisha
7 National Waterway 8 Alappuzha- Changanassery Canal Kerala
8 National Waterway 9 Alappuzha-Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal Kerala
Alternate route: 11.5km
9 National Waterway 27 Cumberjua River Goa
10 National Waterway 68 Mandovi River Goa
11 National Waterway 86 Rupnarayan River West Bengal
12 National Waterway 97 Sunderbans Waterway West Bengal
13 National Waterway 111 Zuari River Goa
14 National Waterway 10 Amba River Maharashtra Work to be taken subsequent to SFC/EFC approval.
15 National Waterway 44 Ichamati River West Bengal
16 National Waterway 52 Kali River Karnataka
17 National Waterway 57 Kopili River Assam
18 National Waterway 73 Narmada River Maharashtra & Gujarat Substantial cargo moves in tidal waters/river mouth under respective State maritime board. No interventions are contemplated by IWAI as of now.
19 National Waterway 83 Rajpuri Creek Maharashtra
20 National Waterway 85 Revadanda Creek - Kundalika River System Maharashtra
21 National Waterway 91 Shastri River - Jaigad Creek System Maharashtra
22 National Waterway 94 Sone River Bihar
23 National Waterway 100 Tapi River Maharashtra & Gujarat
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