Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, a total of 111 waterways have been declared as National Waterways (NWs).   Out of these 111 NWs, NWs-1, 2 and 3 are operational and cargo and passenger vessels are moving on them, while for NW-4, the development works under Phase-I from Muktyala to Vijaywada started  in 2017. Further, for development of NW-5, preparation of DPR including Front End Engineering Design (FEED) for the construction of weirs/ barrages with navigational locks and check dams between Pankapal and Paradip/ Dhamra (Phase-I) has been sanctioned.

The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) has been commissioned with technical and financial assistance of the World Bank for the capacity augmentation of NW-1 (Ganga) from Haldia to Varanasi (1380 km).  The JMVP aims at developing the fairway to enable safe navigation of 1,500-2,000 ton vessels.  The project would be completed by 2022-23 at an estimated cost of Rs.5,369 crore.

Out of the 106 newly declared NWs, 36 NWs are considered technically feasible for development of shipping and navigation. The list is as follows-

1.            BARAK (NW-16)

2.            MANDOVI (NW-68)

3.            ZUARI (NW-111)

4.            CUMBERJUA (NW-27)

5.            GHAGHRA (NW-40)

6.            GANDAK (NW-37)

7.            KOSI (NW-58)

8.            SUNDERBAN WATERWAYS (NW-97)

9.            AJOY (AJAY) RIVER (NW-7)

10.        ICHAMATI RIVER (NW-44)

11.        RUPNARAYAN RIVER (NW-86)

12.        SUBARNREKHA RIVER (NW-96)

13.        SUBANSIRI RIVER (NW-95)

14.        BAITARNI RIVER (NW-14)

15.        MAHANADI RIVER (NW-64)

16.        ALAPPUZHA- CHANGANASSERY CANAL (NW8)

17.        ALAPPUZHA- KOTTAYAM – ATHIRAMPUZHA CANAL (NW-9)

18.        KOTTAYAM-VAIKOM CANAL (NW-59)

19.        GURUPUR RIVER (NW-43)

20.        KABINI RIVER (NW-51)

21.        KALI RIVER (NW-52)

22.        NETRAVATHI RIVER (NW-74)

23.        SHARAVATI RIVER (NW-90)

24.        CHAPORA RIVER (NW-25)

25.        MAPUSA - MOIDE RIVER (NW-71)

26.        AMBA RIVER (NW-10)

27.        DABHOL CREEK - VASHISHTI RIVER (NW-28)

28.        REVADANDA CREEK - KUNDALIKA RIVER (NW-85)

29.        SAVITRI RIVER (BANKOT CREEK) (NW-89)

30.        MAHI RIVER (NW-66)

31.        NARMADA RIVER (NW-73)

32.        TAPI RIVER (NW-100)

33.        YAMUNA (NW-110)

34.        JHELUM (NW-49)

35.        KALYAN – THANE – MUMBAI WATERWAY, VASAI CREEK & ULHAS RIVER (NW-53)

36.        TIZU / ZUNGKI RIVERS (NW-101) 

The contours for development of the remaining NWs would be determined on completion of feasibility

studies/ DPRs.

The Budgetary Estimates and expenditure by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) for development and maintenance of NWs, including NW-4, during the last two years and the current year are given below:   

*Extra Budgetary Resources

This information was given by Minister of State for Shipping and Road Transport and Highways

Shri Pon. Radhakrishnan in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

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NP/MS