Minister of State for Shipping Shri Pon Radhakrishnan gave this information to promote Inland Water Transport in the country, 111 – including 5 existing and 106 new- National Waterways (NWs) spread over 24 states have been declared under the National Waterways Act, 2016. Feasibility studies have been undertaken by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) for the 106 new NWs. The Feasibility studies are shared with the concerned State Governments and based on their comments/suggestions and outcome of these reports, a view is taken to prepare Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the development of NWs. As per the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) completed so far, 30 NWs have been found to be technically viable. Their list is given in Table-1 below Out of these 30 NWs, development activities have been initiated on 10 NWs listed at Table-2 below.
Table -1
LIST OF 30 NATIONAL WATERWAYS FOUND FEASIBLE:
| Sl. no. | River/Canal (NWs) | States | Length (km) |
| 1 | GHAGHRA RIVER (NW-40) | U.P & Bihar | 354 |
| 2 | KOSI RIVER (NW-58) | Bihar | 236 |
| 3 | GANDAK RIVER (NW-37) | Bihar & U.P. | 296 |
| 4 | SUNDERBANS WATERWAY (NW-97) | West Bengal | 201 |
| 5 | CUMBERJUA RIVER (NW-27) | Goa | 17 |
| 6 | MANDOVI RIVER (NW-68) | Goa | 41 |
| 7 | ZUARI RIVER (NW-111) | Goa | 50 |
| 8 | BARAK RIVER (NW-16) | Assam | 121 |
| 9 | RUPNARAYAN RIVER (NW-86) | West Bengal | 45 |
| 10 | SUBANSIRI RIVER (NW-95) | Assam | 106 |
| 11 | BAITARNI RIVER (NW-14) | Odisha | 48 |
| 12 | MAHANADI -LUNA RIVER (NW-64) | Odisha | 98 |
| 13 | AMBA RIVER (NW-10) | Maharashtra | 45 |
| 14 | REVADANDA CREEK – KUNDALIKA RIVER (NW-85) | Maharashtra | 31 |
| 15 | MAHI RIVER (NW-66) | Gujarat | 247 |
| 16 | NARMADA RIVER (NW-73) | Gujarat & Maharashtra | 226 |
| 17 | TAPI RIVER (NW-100) | Gujarat | 173 |
| 18 | SUBARNAREKHA RIVER (NW-96) | Odisha | 30 |
| 19 | AJOY (AJAY) RIVER (NW-7) | West Bengal | 19 |
| 20 | ICHAMATI RIVER (NW-44) | West Bengal | 63 |
| 21 | KABINI RIVER (NW-51) | Karnataka | 23 |
| 22 | CHAPORA RIVER (NW-25) | Goa | 25 |
| 23 | DABHOL CREEK – VASHISHTI RIVER (NW-28) | Maharashtra | 45 |
| 24 | MAPUSA – MOIDE RIVER (NW-71) | Goa | 27 |
| 25 | SAVITRI RIVER (BANKOT CREEK) (NW-89) | Maharashtra | 45 |
| 26 | GURUPUR RIVER (NW-43) | Karnataka | 10 |
| 27 | ALAPPUZHA- CHANGANASSERY CANAL (NW-8) | Kerala | 29 |
| 28 | ALAPPUZHA- KOTTAYAM – ATHIRAMPUZHA CANAL (NW-9) | Kerala | 52 |
| 29 | KOTTAYAM-VAIKOM CANAL (NW-59) | Kerala | 19 |
| 30 | Kalyan-Thane-Mumbai Waterway, Vasai Creek and Ulhas river (NW- 53) | Maharashtra | 145 |
Table . -2.
List of 10 viable NWs on which development activities have been initiated
| Name of the Waterway | Status and Time-frame |
|
Development at a cost of Rs. 76.01 crore for years 2016-17 to 2019-20 for Phase -1 of NW-16 from Silchar to Bhanga has commenced. Maintenance dredging for fairway development work in Silchar-Bhanga stretch has commenced. Consultant has been engaged for the upgradation of terminals at Badarpur, Karimganj and new floating terminal at Silchar. Waterway is operational with limited infrastructure facility. |
|
Development at a cost of Rs. 12.91 crore for years 2017-18 to 2018-19 including fairway maintenance work has commenced. Waterway is operational with limited infrastructure facility. |
| Waterways in Goa
|
A proposal for the development of NWs in Goa at an estimated cost of Rs. 22.65 crore for years 2017-18 to 2018-19 has been approved. Work is proposed to be executed through Government of Goa with the assistance of Mormugao Port Trust. A Tripartite MoU has been signed for the commencement of works. Tendering for 4 floating jetties is under process. NWs of Goa are operational. |
| 6. Alappuzha– Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal
(NW-9) |
Proposal for development of the waterway at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.60 crore for years 2017-18 to 2018-19 has been approved. Night navigation facilities has been procured and installed. Dredging is proposed departmentally. Waterway is already operational for ferry services. |
| 7. River Rupnarayan
(NW-86) |
Proposal for development of the waterway at an estimated cost of Rs. 24.00 crore for years 2017-18 to 2018-19 has been approved. Work has been awarded for setting up of floating terminal. Tendering for dredging is at an advanced stage. Waterway is operational. |
| 8.Sunderbans Waterways
(NW-97) |
Proposal for the development of waterway at an estimated cost of Rs. 18.10 crore for years 2017-18 to 2018-19 has been approved. Work order has been issued for dredging. Waterway is part of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route and already operational for vessels. |
| 9. River Kosi (NW-58) | Project proposal sanctioned for Rs. 15.68 crore for years 2018-19 to 2019-20 to develop the waterway with minimum required infrastructure (bandalling, channel marking, floating terminals and conducting monthly survey etc.). Waterway is operational. |
| 10. River Ghagra (NW-40) | An amount of Rs. 11.60 crore for years 2018-19 to 2019-20 has been approved for fairway development by bandalling and day channel marking, creation of floating terminals and monthly surveys. Waterway is operational. |
IWAI is undertaking development of National Waterways for purposes of shipping and navigation from the Government Budgetary Support (GBS)/Internal and Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR) and multilateral funding provided by the Central Government. Necessary support is requested from the State Governments from time to time as per requirement for matters related to acquisition of land, law and order, water, electricity etc. which come under the purview of State Governments.
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