Parliament Question: Cargo transportation under national waterways projects

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2074 ANSWERED ON 10.03.2026 CARGO TRANSPORTATION UNDER NATIONAL WATERWAYS PROJECTS 2074. SHRI SANJAY KUMAR JHA: Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: (a) whether an increase has been recorded in cargo transportation through various national waterways of the country; (b) if so, the details of the growth during the last five years; and (c) whether Government is considering any new cargo transportation incentives, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL) (a) & (b) The cargo movement on National Waterways has increased from 83.61 million metric tons in 2020-21 to 145.84 million metric tones in 2024-25 recording an increase of 74.44%. (c) A comprehensive cargo promotion scheme namely Jalvahak has been approved by the Government for providing incentives to promote utilization of Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) Sector by cargo owners and establishing Schedule Services for cargo movement on Kolkata to Varanasi on National Waterway (NW)-1 and Kolkata to Pandu on NW-1 to NW-2 via Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route. The Scheme has two components to address the specific needs of the IWT sector:- i) Component 1: Provide financial incentives directly to the cargo owners for sustainable modal-shift of cargo from Rail/ Road to IWT mode, to the extent of 35% of the total actual operating expenditure incurred on waterways journey. ii) Component 2: Launch of Scheduled Services by Inland and Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL) for promotion of IWT, by providing funds to ICSL for the IWT vessels operated by it. *****