Parliament Question: Expansion of Water Metro Systems

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2270 ANSWERED ON 31.07.2026 EXPANSION OF WATER METRO SYSTEMS 2270. SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY: Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: प(cid:517)न, पोत प(cid:303)रवहन और जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ी (a) the current status of implementation under the Draft National Water Metro Policy introduced to expand modern, eco-friendly water-based public transportation corridors modeled after the Kochi Water Metro; (b) the total number of navigable urban waterways identified, cities cleared for feasibility studies, and eco-friendly electric ferries commissioned country-wide, state/UT-wise; (c) the structural details of the zero-emission technical frameworks adopted, including standardisation requirements for hybrid propulsion vessels, fast-charging infrastructure, and multimodal integration with road and rail networks; and (d) the steps taken to establish viable financing structures like public-private partnerships, ensure environmental safety, and fast-track inter-ministerial consultations to prevent project deployment delays? ANSWER MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL) (a), (c) & (d) Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) is formulating National Water Metro Guidelines, 2026 to support the planning, implementation, safety standards, and promotion of eco-friendly water-based public transportation systems. Aspects relating to the zero/low-emission technical framework, standardization requirements, financing structures, environmental safety, and inter-ministerial coordination are covered under these guidelines. (b) Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), an autonomous organisation under the MoPSW has undertaken Feasibility Studies for the development of Urban Water Metro Systems at 18 identified locations across the country. The Feasibility Studies for 15 locations have been completed, which will help in assessing the technical viability, infrastructure requirements, operational framework, and potential for implementing water-based urban public transportation systems. However, four hybrid electric vessels have been deployed at Varanasi, Ayodhya, Patna and Kolkata; and one hydrogen fuel cell vessel has been deployed at Varanasi under other initiatives of the Ministry. *****