The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, convened its 197th Board Meeting, approving key initiatives to advance inland water transport (IWT) in India. A comprehensive development plan for National Waterway 2 (River Brahmaputra) was approved, along with a proposal for a link road connecting a Ship Repair Facility to Pandu Terminal on NW2 in Assam. The board also approved an amendment to the Inland Waterways Authority of India Classification of National Waterways Regulations, 2022. Furthermore, the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC), IIT Madras, will prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for extending National Waterway 64 (River Mahanadi) from Sambalpur barrage in Odisha to Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh, including a feasibility study for MICE facilities in Hirakud. The board was also updated on IWT initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir, including the development of river navigation infrastructure on three national waterways.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: A government ministry overseeing port, shipping, and waterways development.
IWAI: Inland Waterways Authority of India, an organization under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
197th Board Meeting: A board meeting of the IWAI where key decisions were made regarding inland water transport.
Inland Water Transport (IWT): The sector focused on transportation and development of waterways within India.
National Waterway 2 (NW2): A designated national waterway, specifically the Brahmaputra River.
Brahmaputra River: The river designated as National Waterway 2 (NW2).
Ship Repair Facility: A facility for repairing ships, located near Pandu Terminal.
Pandu Terminal: An IWT terminal located on NW2 in Assam.
Assam: A state in India where the Pandu Terminal is located.
Inland Waterways Authority of India Classification of National Waterways Regulations, 2022: A set of regulations governing the classification of national waterways in India, amended by the IWAI board.
NTCPWC: National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts, IIT Madras.
IIT Madras: Indian Institute of Technology Madras, engaged through NTCPWC for project report preparation.
DPR: Detailed Project Report, being prepared by NTCPWC for the extension of National Waterway 64.
National Waterway 64 (NW64): A designated national waterway, specifically the River Mahanadi.
River Mahanadi: The river designated as National Waterway 64.
Sambalpur barrage: A barrage in Odisha, the starting point for the proposed extension of NW64.
Odisha: A state in India where Sambalpur barrage is located, and where feasibility studies for MICE facilities will be conducted.
Naya Raipur: A city in Chhattisgarh, the proposed end point for the extension of NW64.
Chhattisgarh: A state in India where Naya Raipur is located.
Jammu and Kashmir: A union territory in India where IWT promotion initiatives are being taken.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi - the source of the press release.
MoPSW: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the governing ministry of IWAI.
NorthEastern Region (NER): The region in India where a comprehensive plan to develop National Waterway 2 will be implemented.
NH27: National Highway 27, to which the link road from Pandu Port will provide seamless connectivity.
Hirakud: A location in Odisha where feasibility of setting up MICE facilities will be studied.
MICE: Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions, facilities whose feasibility is being studied in Hirakud, Odisha.
NISG: National Institute of Smart Government, which provided a report on organizational restructuring for IWAI.
NW84, NW49 and NW26: Three national waterways in Jammu and Kashmir where river navigation infrastructure will be created.
Shri Narendra Modi: Prime Minister of India.
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal: Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
IWAI takes key decisions for advancing Inland Water
Transport in its 197th Board Meeting
A Comprehensive Development Plan for National
Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra River) approved
Proposal to construct link road connecting Ship
Repair Facility to Pandu Terminal on NW-2 in Assam
cleared
Major amendment in Inland Waterways Authority of
India (Classification of National Waterways)
Regulations, 2022
NTCPWC to prepare DPR for extension of NW-64
(River Mahanadi) from Sambalpur barrage in Odisha
to Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh
Board apprised of IWT initiatives in Jammu and
Kashmir
Posted On: 19 MAY 2025 9:29PM by PIB Delhi
th
In its 197 Board Meeting held last week, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) took key decisions to advance the inland water
transport (IWT) sector in India. The IWAI Board approved a comprehensive plan to develop National
Waterway-2 (River Brahmaputra) while also clearing the proposal of developing a link road connecting Ship
Repair Facility to Pandu Terminal on NW-2 in Assam. An amendment in the Inland Waterways Authority of
India (Classification of National Waterways) Regulations, 2022 was also approved by the Board.
The comprehensive plan to develop National Waterway-2 in Assam over the next three years entails a seriesof steps including fairway development, terminal infrastructure, navigation aids, green energy initiatives, skill
development center, vessel operations, maintenance and dry docking within the ambit of IWT promotion in
the country’s North-Eastern Region (NER). The proposal for constructing a link road from NER’s first
upcoming Ship Repair Facility to IWT terminal at Pandu will ease the movement of heavy
machineries/equipment and vehicles during the operational stage of the facility. It will also provide seamless
connectivity from Pandu Port to NH-27 using the dedicated road which is under construction. IWT projects
worth over 1500 crores are presently being implemented in the region.
The IWAI Board also cleared an important amendment in the Inland Waterways Authority of India
(Classification of National Waterways) Regulations, 2022. The distance between the navigation channel and
the outer edge of a jetty have been rationalized in the amended regulations.
Apart from this, IWAI has engaged NTCPWC (National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and
Coasts), IIT Madras for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the extension of National Waterway-64
(River Mahanadi) from Sambalpur barrage in Odisha to Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh. The work will also
include studying the feasibility of setting up MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions)
facilities in Hirakud – as requested by the state government of Odisha.
Besides, a proposal for creation of posts in IWAI based on the report on organizational restructuring by NISG
(National Institute of Smart Government) has been approved by the Board.
The Board was also apprised of the IWT promotion initiatives being taken in Jammu and Kashmir which
includes creation of river navigation infrastructure on three national waterways (NW-84, NW-49 and NW-26)
in the union territory.
Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the able guidance of Minister of
Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, IWAI has made several infrastructural
interventions to develop waterways as a robust engine of growth. With proactive steps like developing IWT
terminals and related infrastructure, the Authority is working towards utilising the immense potential of rivers
across the country.
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GDH
(Release ID: 2129774)