Parliament Question: Inland Water Transport in Punjab

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *317 ANSWERED ON 13.03.2026 INLAND WATER TRANSPORT IN PUNJAB *317. SHRI MALVINDER SINGH KANG: 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 present status of National Waterway-98 (NW-98) on the Sutlej River in Rupnagar district of Punjab; (b) whether any Techno-Economic Feasibility Study/Detailed Project Report has been completed/under preparation for Inland Water Transport development on the Sutlej River in Punjab and if so, the details thereof; (c) the details of funds sanctioned, released and utilized for jetties, terminals or other inland waterway infrastructure on the said river since 2016; (d) whether any technical, hydrological or environmental constraints have affected inland waterway development on the said River, if so, the details thereof; and (e) the steps taken under Maritime India Vision 2030 to promote inland water transport for benefiting farmers and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Punjab? 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 PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *317 ANSWERED ON 13.03.2026 RAISED BY SHRI MALVINDER SINGH KANG, HON’BLE M.P. REGARDING “INLAND WATER TRANSPORT IN PUNJAB” (a) & (b) Sutlej River has been declared as National Waterway-98 (NW-98) from Bridge at Sunni (District Mandi, Himachal Pradesh) to Harike Barrage (Punjab) and passes through Rupnagar District also. The feasibility study of Sutlej River (NW-98) is being carried out and the report is expected to be submitted by May, 2026. (c) & (d) An amount of Rs. 2.82 crore has been sanctioned for undertaking feasibility study of NW-98. The provision of waterway infrastructure such as jetties, terminals, technical, hydrological and environmental constraints etc. will be a part of the feasibility report. (e) The preparation of feasibility report is the first step undertaken under the objectives of Maritime India Vision 2030. The developmental works will be undertaken for benefit of common public including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises and farmers as per the feasibility report. *****