Under the Jalvahak Scheme, the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (Shri Sarbananda Sonowal) addressed Unstarred Question No. 2317 on 13.02.2026. Since the scheme's launch on 15.12.2024, 21 cargo shipments have been shifted from road/rail to waterways. So far, 12.5 million Ton-Km of cargo have been moved, achieving 1.56% of the 2027 target of shifting 800 million tonne-km of cargo. Fourteen voyages on National Waterway-1 (NW-1) and seven voyages on National Waterway-2 (NW-2) have been completed under scheduled service. Steel Authority of India Limited has moved 300 MT of steel via inland waterways. As of December 2025, no financial incentive has been disbursed because registered cargo owners have not submitted any claims for cargo movement under the financial incentive component of the Jalvahak Scheme.
Key Entities Referenced
Jalvahak Scheme: A scheme to shift cargo shipments from road and rail to inland waterways.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the Jalvahak Scheme.
National Waterway-1 (NW-1): Part of the inland waterways transport network referenced in the policy.
National Waterway-2 (NW-2): Part of the inland waterways transport network referenced in the policy.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2317
ANSWERED ON 13.02.2026
CARGO SHIPMENTS UNDER THE JALVAHAK SCHEME
2317. SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY:
SHRI RAMESH AWASTHI:
SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL:
SHRI MUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANT DALAL:
SHRI TAPIR GAO;
SHRI TATKARE SUNIL DATTATREY:
Will the Minister ofPORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYSbe pleased to state:
प(cid:517)न,पोत प(cid:303)रवहन और जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ी
(a) the number of cargo shipments shifted from road and rail to inland waterways under
the Jalvahak Scheme;
(b) whether the target of shifting 800 million tonne-km of cargo by 2027 is on track, if so,
the percentage of the said target achieved in 2025;
(c) the number of Fixed Day Scheduled Services running between Kolkata-Varanasi
(NW-1) and Kolkata-Pandu (NW-2) as of December 2025;
(d) the number of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) that have allocated a part of their
cargo for inland waterway transport; and
(e) whether the financial incentive for private cargo owners moving goods over 300 km
has been paid, if so, the details thereof indicating the total amount disbursed up to
December 2025?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) Twenty one (21) cargo shipments have been shifted from road / rail to waterways
under the Jalvahak Scheme since its launch on 15.12.2024.
(b) So far 12.5 million Ton-Km cargo have been moved under the Jalvahak scheme
with an achievement of 1.56 % of thetarget.(c) Fourteen (14) voyages on National Waterway-1 (NW-1) and seven (7) voyages on
National Waterway-2 (NW-2) under scheduled service have been completed so far.
(d) Steel Authority of India Limited has moved 300 MT of steel through inland water
transport under scheduled services.
(e) No incentive has been disbursed till date as none of the registered cargo owners
has submitted any claim for cargo movement under financial incentive component of
Jalvahak Scheme.
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