**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 2182 in the Lok Sabha, answered on December 12, 2025, by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. It provides information on passenger and cargo traffic on India's National Waterways (NWs), regulatory frameworks, operational and developing NWs, tourist spots along NW-64, the Jalvahak Scheme, and safety measures in place. The response covers data up to the financial year 2024-25, with financial incentives under the Jalvahak scheme applicable until FY 2026-27.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Passenger and Cargo Traffic:**
* Total passenger traffic on National Waterways: 1.61 Cr in 2023-24 and 7.64 Cr in 2024-25.
* Cargo movement and revenue earned by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) over the last five years (2020-21 to 2024-25) are detailed.
* **Regulatory Framework:**
* The National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025 allows private sector participation in the development of jetties and terminals.
* "Jalsamriddhi," an online portal, has been established for stakeholders to apply for a "No Objection Certificate" (NOC) for construction on NWs.
* **Operational National Waterways:**
* Details of state-wise operational NWs are provided in Annexure-1 (list of 32 National Waterways, their limits, and the states they traverse as of 30.11.2025).
* **Tourism Development:**
* IWAI has identified and conducted a survey of 5 river cruise tourism circuits on NW-64 (River Mahanadi), listing specific temples and locations.
* **Jalvahak Scheme:**
* The Jalvahak scheme promotes inland water transport with Rs. 95.42 Cr allocated for 3 years from FY 2024-25 to FY 2026-27.
* The scheme provides financial incentives directly to cargo owners (35% of operating expenditure).
* It supports the launch of Scheduled Services by Inland and Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL)
* **Safety and Assistance:**
* A Legal & Regulatory Framework on NWs has been provided in the Inland Vessels Act, 2021 for safety, life and cargo protection, and pollution prevention.
* Navigational safety, assistance, navigational marks, and River Pilots are provided.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Passengers**
* **Impact:** Information on passenger traffic trends allows for better planning and resource allocation for passenger services on NWs.
* **Action Required:** No direct action required, but this data informs decisions regarding infrastructure and service improvements.
**Stakeholder: Cargo Owners/Shippers**
* **Impact:** The data on cargo movement and the Jalvahak Scheme directly impact the economics of using NWs for transportation.
* **Action Required:** Explore opportunities to utilize NWs for cargo transport and take advantage of financial incentives under the Jalvahak scheme. Apply for Scheduled Services provided by Inland and Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL)
**Stakeholder: Private Investors**
* **Impact:** The regulatory framework allowing private sector participation and the online NOC portal "Jalsamriddhi" facilitate investment in inland waterways infrastructure.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the "Jalsamriddhi" portal to apply for NOCs to construct terminals and invest in NW infrastructure.
**Stakeholder: Government (Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and IWAI)**
* **Impact:** Information on waterway usage, tourism development, and the Jalvahak Scheme's impact aids in policy planning and resource allocation.
* **Action Required:** Continue monitoring waterway usage, promoting tourism circuits, and implementing the Jalvahak Scheme to achieve its objectives. Ensure the Inland Vessels Act, 2021 is appropriately implemented.
**Stakeholder: Tourism sector**
* **Impact:** Tourism sector stands to benefit from development of tourist spots along NW-64
* **Action Required:** Take the opportunity to invest in the listed river cruise tourism circuits on NW-64 (River Mahanadi).
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The ministry responsible for policies related to ports, shipping, and waterways in India.
National Waterways (NWs): India's navigable inland waterways, including rivers and canals, used for transportation.
Inland Vessels Act, 2021: A unified national regulatory framework for inland vessels plying in inland waters of India.
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI): An authority responsible for the development and regulation of inland waterways in India.
Jalvahak Scheme: A scheme to promote inland water transport through financial incentives and scheduled services.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2182
ANSWERED ON 12.12.2025
PASSENGER TRAFFIC ON NATIONAL WATERWAYS
2182. SHRI BRIJMOHAN AGRAWAL:
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 total passenger traffic recorded on India's National Waterways (INW) during the
financial year 2023–24 and 2024-25, year-wise;
(b) the quantum of cargo moved via India's National Waterways during the last five fiscal
years along with the total revenue generated from cargo movement;
(c) the details of the regulatory framework notified in the year 2025 to attract private
investment for operating inland waterways infrastructure in the country;
(d) the details of all operational and under development National Waterways, State-wise;
(e) the details of all tourist spots developing along the National Waterway-64 along with
the total investment committed for river-cruise tourism eco-system;
(f) the details of the Jalvahak Scheme along with the number of NWs made operational
under the said scheme, route-wise; and
(g) whether the safety and relevant assistance is being provided by the Government to
the cargos moving in NWs, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) The total passenger traffic recorded on National Waterways (NWs) in India was
1.61 Cr. in 2023- 24 and 7.64 Cr in 2024-25.
(b) The cargo movement recorded in NWs and revenue earned during last five years by
the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) by way of interest on short term deposits,
sale of tender forms, over dimension cargo/general cargo movement, berthing/pilotage
charges etc. are given below:Cargo movement(in million Revenue Earned (INR in
Year tons) Lakhs)
2020-21 83.61 1950.05
2021-22 108.79 1182.34
2022-23 126.15 1397.04
2023-24 133.03 1988.29
2024-25 145.84 2533.90
(c) The National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025 allows
private sector participation in development of jetties/terminals along NWs and promoting
infrastructure growth through non-governmental investment. A dedicated online portal
named “Jalsamriddhi” has been put in place, where stakeholders can apply for “No
Objection Certificate” (NOC) for construction of terminals on or along NWs by private
agencies, enabling faster infrastructure expansion without Government funding.
(d) The details of state-wise operational NWs are given in Annexure-1.
(e) IWAI has identified and conducted survey of the following 5 river cruise tourism
circuits on NW-64 (River Mahanadi)
(i) Subarnameru(Subranpur)-Shiva Mandir (Bargarh)
(ii) Singanatha Temple(Cuttack)- Badamba (Cuttack)
(iii) Bankimacharchiga(Cuttack)- Trutladevi Temple
(iv) Jobra-Shree Shree Dableswara Temple
(v) Kantilo-Maa Bhattarika Shaktipeeth
(f) To promote inland water transport sector, Jalvahak scheme has been launched by the
Government. The main features of the scheme are as under:
i) It has a provision of Rs. 95.42 Cr for a period of 3 years from FY 2024-25 to FY
2026-27.
ii) Provide financial incentives directly to the cargo owners to the extent of 35% of the
total actual operating expenditure incurred on waterways journey.
iii) Launch of Scheduled Services by Inland and Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL) for
promotion of IWT, by providing funds to ICSL for the IWT vessel operated by ICSLon (i) Kolkata-Patna/Varanasi route (ii) Kolkata-Guwahati – via IBP route and (iii)
Kolkata – Karimganj/Badarpur via IBP route.
iv) Scheme is applicable on NW-1, NW-2 and NW-16 only for long haul movement of
greater than 200 Kms.
(g) For safety of navigation, protection of life and cargo and prevention of pollution caused
by use of navigation of inland vessels, a Legal & Regulatory Framework on NWs has
been provided in the Inland Vessels Act, 2021 which is a unified national regulatory
framework for inland vessels plying in inland waters of India. Further, navigational safety
and relevant assistance is provided to vessels with navigational marks. River Pilots are
provided on the cargo vessels for safe navigation.Annexure-1
Operational National Waterways as on 30.11.2025
S.No. NW No. Limits of NW State
Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River U. P., Bihar, Jharkhand
1 NW-1 System (Haldia-Allahabad) & W. Bengal
Brahmaputra River (Dhubri-
2 NW-2 Sadiya) Assam
3 NW-3 West Coast Canal Kerala
4 NW-4 Krishna Godavari River Systems Andhra Pradesh
East Coast Canal And Matai
River/Brahmani-Kharsua-Dhamra
5 NW-5 Rivers/Mahanadi Delta Rivers Odisha
6 NW-8 Alappuzha-Changanassery Canal Kerala
Alappuzha-Kottayam –
7 NW-9 Athirampuzha Canal Kerala
8 NW-14 Baitarni River Odisha
9 NW-16 Barak River Assam
10 NW-23 Budha Balanga Odisha
11 NW-31 Dhansiri/Chathe Assam
12 NW-44 Ichamati River W. Bengal
13 NW-48 Jawai-Luni-Rann Of Kutch River Gujarat
NW-53 (Kalyan-Thane-Mumbai Maharashtra
Waterway, Vasai Creek And
14 Ulhas River)
15 NW-64 Mahanadi River Odisha
16 NW-86 Rupnarayan River W. Bengal
17 NW-94 Sone River Bihar18 NW-97 Sunderbans Waterway W. Bengal
19 NW-10 Amba River Maharashtra
20 NW-83 Rajpuri Creek Maharashtra
Revadanda Creek-Kundalika
NW-85 Maharashtra
21 River System
Shastri River - Jaigad Creek Maharashtra
NW-91
22 System
23 NW-68 Mandovi River Goa
24 NW-111 Zuari River Goa
25 NW-73 Narmada River Gujarat
26 NW-100 Tapi River Gujarat
27 NW-27 Cumberjua River Goa
28 NW-47 Jalangi River West Bengal
29 NW-87 Sabarmati River Gujarat
30 NW-57 Kopili River Assam
31 NW-110 Yamuna River UP
32 NW-40 Ghaghra River UP
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