Parliament Question: National Waterways in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 951 ANSWERED ON 24.07.2026 NATIONAL WATERWAYS IN TAMIL NADU 951. SHRI ESWARASAMY K: Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: प(cid:419)न, पोत प(cid:464)रवहन और जलमाग (cid:91) म(cid:287)ं ी (a) whether the Government has undertaken development of the declared National Waterways in Tamil Nadu, namely Buckingham Canal, Bhavani River, Kaveri River (including Kollidam Stretch), Pazhayar River and Ponniyar River and if so, the present status thereof; (b) whether the Government has completed feasibility studies for the said National Waterways; (c) if so, the details thereof including the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) prepared/under preparation along with the funds allocated and released therefor so far; (d) whether the Government has fixed any timeline for the operationalisation of cargo and passenger/tourism services on these National Waterways and if so, the details thereof; and (e) whether the Government has taken steps to ensure time-bound implementation of these projects and inter-State coordination for effective utilisation of the said National Waterways and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL) (a) to (c) Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has completed the feasibility study for the National Waterways (NW), namely Buckingham Canal (part of NW-4), Bhavani River (NW-20), Kaveri River (including Kollidam stretch) (NW-55), Pazhayar River (NW-77) and Ponniyar River (NW-80). In the feasibility study, no cargo potential envisaged except limited tourism development potential in Bhavani River (NW-20), Kaveri River (including Kollidam stretch) (NW-55), Pazhayar River (NW-77) and Ponniyar River (NW-80). However, cargo and tourism potential has been envisaged in Buckingham Canal (part of NW-4). Accordingly, updation of DPR for NW-4 includingBuckingham Canal has been awarded at a cost of Rs. 5.24 crore. In case of other NWs, DPRs were not prepared as no cargo potential was envisaged in the feasibility study. (d) & (e) IWAI has prepared and shared an action plan for tourism development in the above NWs with the Government of Tamil Nadu for their recommendation as given at Annexure.Annexure National Waterways planned for development within Tamil Nadu: (a) Buckingham Canal (constituent of NW-4): Jetty proposed for the following Cargo / River Cruise Tourism circuits: i. Mahabalipuram to Ediyur Bridge ii. Cooum River portion of Buckingham Canal near Marina Beach iii. Pulicat Lake iv. Ennore Port to ETPS for Cargo movement (b) River Bhavani (NW-20): Jetty proposed for River Cruise Tourism at Bhavani- Sangmeswar Temple (c) River Kaveri- Kollidam (NW-55): Jetty proposed for River Cruise Tourism near Chidambaram (d) River Pazhyar (NW-77): Jetty proposed near Kanyakumari for River Cruise Tourism (e) River Ponniyar (NW-80) : Jetty proposed for River Cruise Tourism. *****