Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways addressed questions regarding the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) regional office in Varanasi. The response outlines the economic and logistical benefits, infrastructure projects, impact on local industries, the role of Indian ports in the Blue Economy Vision, and the status of a rail link project. The document highlights increased cargo movement on National Waterway 1 (NW1) and the completion of a feasibility study for a new rail connectivity project.
Key Points / Main Content:
IWAI Varanasi Regional Office:
* Aims to streamline Inland Water Transport (IWT) projects and enhance coordination with the State IWT Authority.
* Enables effective monitoring, execution, and administration of projects on National Waterways in Uttar Pradesh.
* Positions the region as a critical hub for waterway logistics and economic development.
Infrastructure Projects in Varanasi:
* Multimodal Terminal
* Freight Village
* 6 Community Jetties
* Regional Centre of Excellence
* Ship Repair Facility
* River Cruise Terminal
* Urban Transport Project
* Fairway Development from Varanasi to Ghazipur
* Railways connectivity to Multimodal Terminal Varanasi
* Deployment of Hydrogen Vessel Hybrid Electric Catamaran
Benefits to Local Industries and Businesses:
* IWT offers a cost-effective transportation option, especially for bulk cargo.
* IWT provides a supplementary mode of transportation.
* IWAI provides infrastructure, fairway, and navigational aids for efficient vessel movement from Varanasi to Haldia and the North Eastern Region (NER).
* Developmental activities facilitate cargo and cruise movements on NW1 (River Ganga).
* Cargo movement on NW1 has increased from 5.05 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 16.4 million tonnes in 2024-25.
Indian Ports and the Blue Economy Vision:
* Ports play a pivotal role in the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and environmental protection.
* Ports are central to India's economic and geopolitical strategy in the Indian Ocean Region.
Rail Link Project:
* Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Limited (IPRCL) conducted a feasibility study for a new rail connectivity from Jaisalmer to Bhabhar via Barmer with a proposed connection to Deendayal Port.
* The estimated project cost was Rs. 2177.01 Cr. for diesel traction and Rs. 2555.71 Cr. for electric traction.
* IPRCL submitted the report to the Government of Rajasthan and Deendayal Port Authority (DPA).
Impact Analysis
Government of Uttar Pradesh:
* Impact: Enhanced economic development and improved logistics through IWT projects.
* Action Required: Coordinate with IWAI for effective project implementation.
Local Industries and Businesses:
* Impact: Access to more cost-effective transportation options, potentially increasing profitability and competitiveness.
* Action Required: Utilize the available IWT infrastructure and services for cargo transportation.
Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Limited (IPRCL):
* Impact: Responsible for the Feasibility study Report submission to stakeholders.
* Action Required: N/A
Government of Rajasthan and Deendayal Port Authority (DPA):
* Impact: Received the feasibility report for the new rail connectivity project.
* Action Required: Review the report and consider integrating the rail link with inland waterways and port infrastructure.
Key Entities Referenced
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI): A government organization responsible for the development and regulation of inland waterways in India.
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: A city in the state of Uttar Pradesh where a regional office of IWAI has been established and several IWT projects are planned/ongoing/completed.
National Waterway 1 (River Ganga): The waterway on which developmental activities are facilitating cargo and cruise movements, leading to employment and connectivity.
Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Limited (IPRCL): A corporation that conducted a feasibility study for a new rail connectivity project.
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan: Starting point of the proposed new rail connectivity studied by IPRCL
Barmer, Rajasthan: A city along the proposed new rail connectivity studied by IPRCL
Kandla Port: The destination port for a proposed rail route to enhance cargo transportation.
Blue Economy Vision: A vision emphasizing the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and environmental protection, in which Indian ports play a pivotal role.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2196
ANSWERED ON 01.08.2025
IWAI IN VARANASI
2196. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:
Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:
प(cid:517)न, पोत प(cid:303)रवहन एवं जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ालय
(a) the expected economic and logistical benefits of the newly established Inland
Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) regional office in Varanasi for the region and its
surrounding areas;
(b) whether any new infrastructure projects are planned in Varanasi on accounting of
the presence of this office and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the manner in which the local industries and businesses are expected to benefit
from enhanced inland water transport connectivity;
(d) the role of Indian ports in advancing India’s Blue Economy Vision and contributing
to the growth of maritime trade; and
(e) whether the study conducted by the Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation
Limited (IPRCL) for a new rail route linking Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhavtada via Sanchor
to Kandla Port has been completed, if so, the manner in which the Government is
planning to integrate this rail link with inland waterways and port infrastructure to
enhance cargo transportation and trade connectivity?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) The establishment of a regional office of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
in Varanasi is a strategic move aimed at streamlining Inland Water Transport (IWT)
projects and enhancing coordination with the State IWT Authority. This office will
enable more effective monitoring, execution, and administration of projects on National
Waterways in Uttar Pradesh. It will also play a key role in unlocking the potential of
water transport in the state, positioning the region as a critical hub for waterway
logistics and economic development.
(b) The details of various IWT projects planned/ongoing/completed at Varanasi are:
i. Multimodal Terminal, Varanasiii. Development of Freight Village, Varanasi
iii. Establishment of 6 Nos. community jetties
iv. Establishment of Regional Centre of Excellence, Varanasi
v. Construction of Ship Repair Facility, Varanasi
vi. River Cruise Terminal, Varanasi
vii. Urban Transport Project, Varanasi
viii. Fairway Development from Varanasi to Ghazipur
ix. Railways connectivity to Multimodal Terminal Varanasi
x. Deployment of Hydrogen Vessel & Hybrid Electric Catamaran
(c) Waterways are more fuel-efficient compared to road and rail transport, making
them a cost-effective option, particularly for bulk cargo such as coal, cement, food
grains, fertilizers, stone chips, and raw materials. As per the study conducted by the
World Bank, the operating cost of IWT mode is Rs. 1.2 per Ton Kilometre, Road is Rs.
2.28 per Ton Kilometre and Rail is Rs. 1.4 per Ton Kilometre. IWT provides a
supplementary mode of transportation to the Local industries and businesses. IWAI is
providing required infrastructure, fairway and navigational aids for efficient movement
of vessels from Varanasi to Haldia and then to North Eastern Region (NER) through
Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route. These developmental activities are facilitating cargo
and cruise movements on National Waterway -1 (River Ganga) leading to direct and
indirect employment along with providing connectivity with the Gateway ports of Haldia
and Kolkata. Due to these interventions, cargo movement on NW-1 has increased
from 5.05 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 16.4 million tonnes in 2024-25.
(d) Indian ports play a pivotal role in realizing the Blue Economy Vision, which
emphasizes sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved
livelihoods, and environmental protection. As gateways to global trade and maritime
infrastructure, ports are at the heart of india’s economic and geopolitical strategy in
the indian ocean region.
(e) Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Limited (IPRCL) had conducted
feasibility study covering traffic report, financial report and engineering survey report
for the proposed new rail connectivity from Jaisalmer to Bhabhar via Barmer with a
proposed connection to Deendayal Port, Kandla via Palanpur, Gandhidham in
January, 2018 for enhancing cargo transportation and transhipment capacities. In the
Report, the estimated cost of the project was Rs. 2177.01 Cr. for diesel traction and
Rs. 2555.71 Cr. for electric traction. IPRCL had submitted copies of the Report to the
Government of Rajasthan and Deendayal Port Authority (DPA).
*****