**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways' response to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding the development of National Waterway-4 (NW-4) on the Godavari River. The response details the national policy, the current status of NW-4, dredging and terminal progress, cargo volume, and steps for promoting Ro-Ro ferry services. The latest update to the DPR for NW-4 is ongoing.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Waterways Policy:**
* India has declared 111 National Waterways as per the National Waterways Act, 2016.
* The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) conducts feasibility studies and prepares Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for developing National Waterways.
* Currently, 32 NWs are operational for cargo/passenger movement.
* **National Waterway-4 (Godavari River):**
* The Godavari River (constituent of NW-4) is being developed in intermittent feasible locations in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra.
* Challenges exist due to weirs, barrages, dams, and check dams lacking navigational locks that hinder vessel movement.
* The stretch of the Godavari River from Rajahmundry (Dowleswaram barrage) to its confluence at sea is not declared as part of NW-4; therefore, no dredging is planned for that stretch.
* Cargo movement on NW-4 in 2024-25 was 10.40 MMT.
* The updation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for NW-4 is currently underway, and action will be taken based on its findings.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder**: Central Government
**Impact:**
The Central Government, specifically the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, is responsible for the policy, planning, and development of National Waterways, including NW-4.
**Action Required:**
The ministry must continue supporting IWAI in conducting feasibility studies, updating DPRs, and taking action based on the DPR findings.
**Stakeholder**: IWAI (Inland Waterways Authority of India)
**Impact:**
IWAI is responsible for conducting techno-economic feasibility studies and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of feasible NWs based on proposals from concerned states.
**Action Required:**
IWAI needs to continue updating the DPR for NW-4 and take necessary actions based on its findings.
**Stakeholder**: State Governments (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra)
**Impact:**
These state governments are directly involved as the Godavari River, and thus NW-4, passes through their territories. They are also responsible for proposing NW development to the central government.
**Action Required:**
State governments need to continue providing proposals and support for the development of NW-4 within their jurisdictions.
**Stakeholder**: Cargo and Passenger Transport Operators
**Impact:**
These operators stand to benefit from the development of NW-4 due to the increased transport capacity and reduced transportation costs.
**Action Required:**
They need to stay informed about the progress of NW-4 and adapt their operations to take advantage of the improved waterway.
Key Entities Referenced
National Waterway-4 (NW-4): A declared National Waterway, specifically a segment on the Godavari River, undergoing development and feasibility studies.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The central government ministry responsible for developing and regulating inland water transport.
National Waterways Act, 2016: The act under which 111 waterways have been declared as National Waterways.
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI): Autonomous organization under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, responsible for conducting feasibility studies and detailed project reports (DPR) for National Waterways.
Andhra Pradesh: A state where the Godavari River (part of NW-4) is being developed.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2179
ANSWERED ON 12.12.2025
NATIONAL WATERWAY-4 ON GODAVARI RIVER
2179. DR. D. PURANDESWARI;
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 national policy on developing Inland Water Transport (IWT) along with the
status of National Waterways;
(b) the current status of National Waterway-4 (NW-4) on the Godavari River;
(c) the progress of dredging works installation of navigational aids and construction of
terminals on the Godavari stretch from Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh to the sea;
(d) the volume of cargo (e.g., coal, fertilizer, foodgrains) moved on NW-4 during the
last year; and
(e) the steps being taken to promote Ro-Ro ferry services and cargo movement from
Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh to reduce load on roads?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) Government has declared 111 Waterways as National Waterways (NWs) as per
National Waterways Act, 2016. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), an
autonomous organization under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, conducts
Techno-economic feasibility and Detailed Project report (DPR) of feasible NWs based on
proposal from state concerned and takes appropriate action for development of these
NWs for cargo/passenger movement as per DPR. Currently, 32 NWs are operational for
Cargo/Passenger movement. The details of operational NWs are given at Annexure-I.
(b) The Godavari river (constituent of NW-4) is being developed in intermittent feasible
locations in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra keeping in view the fact that
there are challenges in the form of existence of 3 weirs, 21 barrages, 5 dams, 14 check
dams without navigational locks creating hindrance in movement of vessels.
(c) The stretch of Godavari river from Rajahmundry (Dowleswaram barrage) to its
confluence at sea is not declared as part of NW-4. As such, no dredging is envisaged in
this stretch of Godavari river as on date.
(d) The Cargo movement on NW-4 in 2024-25 was 10.40 MMT.(e) The updation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for NW-4 is underway and based
on the findings of the DPR, necessary action will be taken.Annexure -I
Operational National Waterways as on 30.11.2025
Sl.
No. NW No. Limits of NW
1 NW-1 Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Haldia-Allahabad)
2 NW-2 Brahmaputra River (Dhubri-Sadiya)
3 NW-3 West Coast Canal
4 NW-4 Krishna Godavari River Systems
East Coast Canal and Matai River/Brahmani-Kharsua-Dhamra
5 NW-5 Rivers/Mahanadi Delta Rivers
6 NW-8 Alappuzha-Changanassery Canal
7 NW-9 Alappuzha-Kottayam-Athirampuzha Canal
8 NW-14 Baitarni River
9 NW-16 Barak River
10 NW-23 Budha Balanga
11 NW-31 Dhansiri/Chathe
12 NW-44 Ichamati River
13 NW-48 Jawai-Luni-Rann Of Kutch River
14 NW-53 (Kalyan-Thane-Mumbai Waterway, Vasai Creek And Ulhas River)
15 NW-64 Mahanadi River
16 NW-86 Rupnarayan River
17 NW-94 Sone River
18 NW-97 Sunderbans Waterway
19 NW-10 Amba River
20 NW-83 Rajpuri Creek
21 NW-85 Revadanda Creek-Kundalika River System
22 NW-91 Shastri River - Jaigad Creek System23 NW-68 Mandovi River
24 NW-111 Zuari River
25 NW-73 Narmada River
26 NW-100 Tapi River
27 NW-27 Cumberjua River
28 NW-47 Jalangi River
29 NW-87 Sabarmati River
30 NW-57 Kopili River
31 NW-110 Yamuna River
32 NW-40 Ghaghra River
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