Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways addressed Lok Sabha question 1144 on July 25, 2025, regarding Inland Water Transport (IWT) development in Uttar Pradesh under the Sagarmala Programme. The response details projects undertaken to enhance port infrastructure, address challenges in inland water transport, and promote regional connectivity. It outlines completed and ongoing projects, their costs, and anticipated economic impacts.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Sagarmala Programme in Uttar Pradesh:**
* Specific projects are underway to enhance port infrastructure and connectivity for trade.
* Economic impacts include supplementary transport mode, reduced logistic costs, boosted river cruise tourism, and lower carbon emissions.
* **Inland Water Transport Challenges:**
* Challenges related to fairway availability and terminal infrastructure are being addressed through dredging and construction of jetties.
* **Regional Connectivity and Logistics Hubs:**
* IWAI acquired 75 acres in Chandauli district for a logistics hub (freight village) near the Varanasi multimodal terminal.
* Benefits include employment generation, support for MSMEs and farmers, and reduced city road congestion.
* **Completed Projects in Uttar Pradesh:**
* Development of Multimodal Terminal at Varanasi (₹182.33 Cr).
* Development of 11 Community Jetties in Varanasi, Chandauli, Ghazipur, and Ballia (₹17 Cr).
* 2 Jetties Installed at Ayodhya, UP on NW40 Ghaghara River
* 2 Electric Catamarans deployed at Varanasi and Ayodhya (₹25.6 Cr).
* 1 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vessel at Varanasi (₹22.62 Cr).
* Sub Total (₹251.55 Cr).
* **Ongoing Projects in Uttar Pradesh:**
* Fairway Development Majhauwa Ghazipur (₹78.64 Cr).
* Development of 4 Steel Community Jetties in Ballia and Ghazipur (₹7.82 Cr).
* Fairway Development from Ghazipur to Varanasi (₹102.98 Cr).
* Development of IWT Jetties 6 installed; 2 work in progress at Mathura in Yamuna (₹12.00 Cr).
* Ayodhya Mathura Projects Quantity based dredging between Guptarghat NW40 and NayaghatJugal Kishore ghat Gokul Barrage NW110 (₹8.45 Cr).
* Development of River Cruise Terminal at Varanasi (₹200 Cr).
* Development of Regional Centre of Excellence at Varanasi (₹150 Cr).
* Development of Ship Repair facility (₹50 Cr).
Impact Analysis:
* **Local Population:**
* Impact: Benefits from employment in logistics, improved transport for local businesses and farmers, and reduced road congestion.
* Action Required: Utilize new infrastructure and opportunities for economic development.
* **MSMEs and Farmers:**
* Impact: Enhanced storage and transport facilities for products.
* Action Required: Leverage improved logistics for business growth.
* **IWAI (Inland Waterways Authority of India):**
* Impact: Responsible for project implementation, infrastructure development, and land acquisition.
* Action Required: Continue overseeing and executing ongoing projects, managing the logistics hub, and addressing fairway challenges.
Key Entities Referenced
Sagarmala Programme: A Government of India initiative to enhance port infrastructure and connectivity.
Inland Water Transport (IWT): Transportation of goods and passengers via navigable rivers and waterways.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India where IWT development projects are being undertaken.
IWAI: Inland Waterways Authority of India, responsible for IWT development.
Varanasi: A city in Uttar Pradesh, India, where multimodal terminal and other IWT projects are located.
Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh: District in Uttar Pradesh where a logistics hub (freight village) is being developed by IWAI.
Ghazipur: A district in Uttar Pradesh, India, where fairway development and community jetties are being developed.
Ayodhya, UP: City in Uttar Pradesh where Jetties are installed on NW40 Ghaghara River.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1144
ANSWERED ON 25.07.2025
INLAND WATER TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT IN UTTAR PRADESH
1144. SHRI SHASHANK MANI:
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) whether the Government has undertaken any specific projects in Uttar Pradesh under
the Sagarmala Programme to enhance port infrastructure and connectivity for trade, if
so, the details thereof, including their status and expected economic impact;
(b) whether the Government is addressing any challenges related to inland water
transport development along major rivers in Uttar Pradesh particularly regarding
infrastructure navigation and sustainability, if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government has plans to promote regional connectivity and logistics hubs
in these districts and if so, the details thereof, including timelines, investments and
expected benefits for the local population, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) The details of sanctioned projects in Uttar Pradesh under Inland Water Transport
(IWT) development by IWAI with status & economic impact are given at Annexure-1. The
economic impact includes creation of supplementary mode of transport, reduced logistic
cost, boost river cruise tourism and lower carbon emission.
(b) The major challenge faced in Inland Water Transport relates to availability of
fairway and terminal infrastructure, which has been addressed by the Government
through dredging/bandalling and construction of jetties.
(c) IWAI has acquired 75 acres of land in Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh for
development of a logistics hub i.e. freight village, adjacent to the Varanasi multi-modal
terminal. The freight village offers numerous benefits including employment generation
in logistics and allied sectors, support for local MSMEs and farmers through better
storage and transport, reduced city road congestion.Annexure-1
IWT PROJECTS IN UTTAR PRADESH
Projects completed in Uttar Pradesh
Sl. Name of Sub Project Cost (Rs.
No. Cr.)
1. Development of Multimodal Terminal at Varanasi 182.33
2. Development of 11 Community Jetties in Varanasi, Chandauli, 17
Ghazipur and Ballia in Uttar Pradesh
3 2 Jetties Installed at Ayodhya, UP on NW-40 (Ghaghara River) 4
4 2 Electric Catamarans deployed at Varanasi and Ayodhya 25.6
5 1 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vessel at Varanasi 22.62
Sub Total 251.55
Projects on-going in Uttar Pradesh
Sl. Name of Sub Project Cost
No. (Rs. Cr.)
1. Fairway Development Majhauwa – Ghazipur 78.64
2 Development of 4 Nos Steel Community Jetties in Ballia and 7.82
Ghazipur, UP
3 Fairway Development from Ghazipur to Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 102.98
4. Development of IWT Jetties (6-installed; 2-work in progress) at 12.00
Mathura in Yamuna
5. Ayodhya& Mathura Projects - Quantity based dredging 8.45
between Guptarghat (NW-40) and Nayaghat&Jugal Kishore
ghat –Gokul Barrage (NW-110)
6. Development of River Cruise Terminal at Varanasi 200
7. Development of Regional Centre of Excellence at Varanasi 150
8. Development of Ship Repair facility 50
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