**Executive Summary**
This report, released by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on December 13, 2025, details passenger traffic on National Waterways (NWs) in India, cargo movement and revenue earned. It also highlights the National Waterways Regulations allowing private sector investment, the Jalvahak scheme, and the unified national regulatory framework for inland vessels, Inland Vessels Act 2021. Key action item to note for the stakeholders is that 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.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Passenger Traffic:**
* 1.61 Cr. in 2023-24 and 7.64 Cr. in 2024-25.
* **Cargo Movement and Revenue (Last Five Years):**
* Data provided in tabular format from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
* 2024-25: 145.84 million tons cargo movement; INR 2533.90 Lakhs revenue earned.
* **National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025:**
* Allows private sector participation in jetty/terminal development.
* Promotes infrastructure growth through non-governmental investment.
* Online portal "Jalsamriddhi" enables stakeholders to apply for "No Objection Certificate” (NOC) for construction of terminals on or along NWs by private agencies.
* **Operational National Waterways:**
* Details are given in Annexure-1 (as on 30.11.2025) with state-wise NWs.
* **River Cruise Tourism Circuits:**
* IWAI has identified and surveyed 5 river cruise tourism circuits on NW-64 (River Mahanadi).
* **Jalvahak Scheme:**
* Launched by the Government to promote inland water transport.
* Provision of Rs. 95.42 Cr for FY 2024-25 to FY 2026-27.
* Financial incentives for cargo owners: 35% of actual operating expenditure incurred on waterways journey.
* Launch of Scheduled Services by Inland and Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL), by providing funds to ICSL for the IWT vessel operated by ICSL on (i) Kolkata-Patna/Varanasi route (ii) Kolkata-Guwahati via IBP route and (iii) Kolkata – Karimganj/Badarpur via IBP route.
* **Scheme Applicability:**
* Applicable on NW-1, NW-2 and NW-16 only for long haul movement of greater than 200 Kms.
* **Legal & Regulatory Framework:**
* Inland Vessels Act, 2021: Unified national regulatory framework for inland vessels.
* Navigational safety and relevant assistance for vessels.
* River Pilots for cargo vessels.
**Impact Analysis**
**Private Agencies/Stakeholders**
* **Impact:** Can participate in the development of jetties/terminals along NWs through private sector investment, enabling faster infrastructure expansion.
* **Action Required:** Apply for "No Objection Certificate” (NOC) through the "Jalsamriddhi" online portal for the construction of terminals on or along NWs.
**Cargo Owners**
* **Impact:** Can avail financial incentives under the Jalvahak scheme for transporting goods via inland waterways
* **Action Required:** Claim financial incentives covering 35% of actual operating expenditure incurred on waterways journey.
**Inland and Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL)**
* **Impact:** Launching of Scheduled Services by Inland and Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL)
* **Action Required:** Launch scheduled services on (i) Kolkata-Patna/Varanasi route (ii) Kolkata-Guwahati via IBP route and (iii) Kolkata – Karimganj/Badarpur via IBP route by providing funds to ICSL for the IWT vessel operated by ICSL
**Inland Vessel Operators**
* **Impact:** Compliance with the unified regulatory framework established by the Inland Vessels Act, 2021.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to the Inland Vessels Act, 2021 and utilize available navigational safety measures and River Pilots.
Key Entities Referenced
National Waterways (NWs): Network of inland waterways in India for transportation and tourism.
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI): The authority responsible for the development and regulation of inland waterways in India.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and laws relating to ports, shipping and waterways.
Inland Vessels Act, 2021: A unified national regulatory framework for inland vessels plying in inland waters of India.
Jalvahak scheme: A scheme to promote inland water transport sector by providing financial incentives.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
PASSENGER TRAFFIC ON NATIONAL
WATERWAYS
प्रव तथ: 13 DEC 2025 5:44PM by PIB Delhi
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.
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 tons) Revenue Earned (INR in Lakhs)
Year
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
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.
The details of state-wise operational NWs are given in Annexure-1.
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
To promote inland water transport sector, Jalvahak scheme has been launched by the Government. The
main features of the scheme are as under:
It has a provision of Rs. 95.42 Cr for a period of 3 years from FY 2024-25 to FY 2026-27.
Provide financial incentives directly to the cargo owners to the extent of 35% of the total actual
operating expenditure incurred on waterways journey.
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 ICSL on (i) Kolkata-
Patna/Varanasi route (ii) Kolkata-Guwahati – via IBP route and (iii) Kolkata –
Karimganj/Badarpur via IBP route.
Scheme is applicable on NW-1, NW-2 and NW-16 only for long haul movement of greater than
200 Kms.
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 Limits of NW State
No.
Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Haldia- U. P., Bihar, Jharkhand
1 NW-1 Allahabad) & W. Bengal
Brahmaputra River (Dhubri- Sadiya)
2 NW-2 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 Rivers/Mahanadi Delta Rivers
5 NW-5 Odisha6 NW-8 Alappuzha-Changanassery Canal Kerala
Alappuzha-Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal
7 NW-9 Kerala
8 NW- Baitarni River Odisha
14
9 NW- Barak River Assam
16
10 NW- Budha Balanga Odisha
23
11 NW- Dhansiri/Chathe Assam
31
12 NW- Ichamati River W. Bengal
44
13 NW- Jawai-Luni-Rann Of Kutch River Gujarat
48
14 NW- (Kalyan-Thane-Mumbai Waterway, Vasai Creek And Maharashtra
53 Ulhas River)
15 NW- Mahanadi River Odisha
64
16 NW- Rupnarayan River W. Bengal
86
17 NW- Sone River Bihar
94
18 NW-97 Sunderbans Waterway W. Bengal
19 NW-10 Amba River Maharashtra
20 NW-83 Rajpuri Creek MaharashtraNW-85 Revadanda Creek-Kundalika River System Maharashtra
21
NW-91 Shastri River - Jaigad Creek System Maharashtra
22
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
This information was given by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda
Sonowal Ji, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
****
PN/IY
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