**Executive Summary**
This document presents the answer to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 93, addressed to the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on December 5, 2025, concerning the feasibility of Godavari waterway connectivity for NTPC Ramagundam. The answer states that further study is not possible due to economic and logistical concerns, and an existing dedicated rail system is more efficient. A task force to focus on cargo handling and movement on Inland Waterways has been constituted.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Godavari Waterway Connectivity for NTPC Ramagundam:**
* NTPC Ramagundam already has a dedicated rail system (Merry-Go-Round Rail - MGR) for coal supply from Adriyala Coalfields.
* Using Inland Water Transport (IWT) would involve extra loading/unloading steps, increasing logistics costs and time.
* **Economic Feasibility:**
* IWT connectivity for NTPC Ramagundam is considered uneconomical due to the total distance of 24 km involving both road and waterway transport.
* The existing rail transport requires only one loading at the coal mines and one unloading at the NTPC plant.
* **National Waterway-4 Integration:**
* The feasibility of River Godavari (part of NW-4) was studied, but found non-feasible due to the presence of numerous weirs, barrages, dams, and check dams without navigation locks.
* **Coordination Framework:**
* A Task Force has been formed under the Chairmanship of the Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India.
* The Task Force comprises representatives from various stakeholder Ministries/ organizations.
* The Task Force's focus is on cargo handling and movement on Inland Waterways.
**Impact Analysis**
**NTPC Ramagundam**
* **Impact:** The company will not benefit from the development of waterway connectivity as an alternative transport route for coal due to cost considerations. The existing dedicated rail system remains the preferred method.
* **Action Required:** None. There is no required action.
**Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways**
* **Impact:** The Ministry needs to continue exploring other inland waterway opportunities to improve logistics.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the Task Force focused on cargo handling and movement on Inland Waterways.
**Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)**
* **Impact:** IWAI's leadership will play a crucial role in steering the focus on cargo handling and movement on Inland Waterways.
* **Action Required:** Chair the Task Force and drive initiatives related to cargo handling and movement on Inland Waterways.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The central ministry responsible for the development of ports, shipping and waterways which is the main subject of the document.
NTPC Ramagundam: A thermal power corporation located in Ramagundam, Telangana, for which Godavari waterway connectivity is being assessed.
Godavari River: The river proposed to be used for waterway connectivity to transport coal to NTPC Ramagundam.
National Waterway-4: A proposed waterway whose integration with power generation infrastructure is being considered.
Inland Waterways Authority of India: Autonomous body under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, leading the Task Force
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *93
ANSWERED ON 05.12.2025
GODAVARI WATERWAY CONNECTIVITY FOR NTPC RAMAGUNDAM
*93. SHRI VAMSI KRISHNA GADDAM:
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 feasibility studies conducted for developing waterway connectivity to transport coal
for National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ramagundam by utilizing Godavari river
navigation from Adriyala coal mine in the State of Telangana;
(b) the development plans for inland waterway transport corridors connecting
Ramagundam thermal power station to reduce transportation costs and environmental
impact;
(c) the integration strategy for National Waterway-4 with power generation infrastructure
in Peddapalli district and the timeline by which such connectivity is expected to be made
operational;
(d) the budgetary allocations made for dredging and infrastructure development on
Godavari river to facilitate bulk cargo movement including coal and industrial raw
materials; and
(e) the coordination framework established between the Government and power sector
PSUs for utilizing waterway transport to reduce logistics costs for thermal power plants in
Telangana?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *93 FOR ANSWER ON 05.12.2025 RAISED BY HON’BLE
MP SHRI VAMSI KRISHNA GADDAM REGARDING “GODAVARI WATERWAY
CONNECTIVITY FOR NTPC RAMAGUNDAM”
(a) & (b) National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ramagundam has a dedicated
Merry-Go-Round Rail (MGR) system that connects the power plant to Adriyala Coalfields
for supply of coal, whereas the movement of coal from Adriyala Coalmines through Inland
Water Transport (IWT) mode will have extra loading/unloading leading to additional
logistics cost and time as mentioned below:
(i) First, loading for road and transport about 11 km from Coal mine sites and unloading
at the bank of Godavari,
(ii) Second, loading at the bank of Godavari and movement through IWT for about 11 km,
and unloading from vessels at bank of Godavari,
(iii) Third, loading to road transport for about 2 km for NTPC plant, and unloading at NTPC
Ramagundam Plant.
Thus, the IWT connectivity for NTPC Ramagundam is uneconomical for total distance of
24 km by Road and IWT because the existing Rail transport of coal involves one loading
at coal mines and one unloading at NTPC plant having direct connectivity with dedicated
MGR.
(c) Does not arise.
(d) The feasibility of River Godavari (a constituent of NW-4) was conducted and it was
found non feasible due to presence of 3 weirs, 21 barrages, 5 dams and 14 check dams
without navigation locks.
(e) A Task Force has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Chairman, Inland
Waterways Authority of India an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping
and Waterways with representatives of various stakeholder Ministries/ organizations as
Members to focus on cargo handling and movement on Inland Waterways.
*****