Projects & Development
Timeline of key milestones, institutions and projects shaping India's inland waterway infrastructure.
Key Milestones
The Inland Waterways Authority of India comes into existence to develop and regulate inland waterways for shipping and navigation.
111 inland waterways are declared as National Waterways in the Schedule to the National Waterways Act, 2016, consolidating earlier declarations into a single statute.
Phased feasibility studies, fairway development, terminals and navigation systems across the expanded network.
Capacity augmentation of the 1,390 km Varanasi to Haldia sub-corridor of NW-1 with multi-modal terminals, a navigational lock and River Information Services.
IWAI hands over the Kalughat inter-modal terminal to a private operator and cargo operations commence at the Haldia multi-modal terminal, with the first consignment routed to Pandu, Guwahati.
A model linking waterway development with cluster-based economic activity, agriculture, tourism and riverine livelihoods.
Programme for port modernisation, port connectivity, port-led industrialisation and coastal community development.
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
Statutory body responsible for the development and regulation of India's inland waterways.
Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP)
Capacity augmentation of navigation on the Haldia–Varanasi stretch of NW-1.
Arth Ganga & Sagarmala
An economic development model along the Ganga linking waterway infrastructure with local livelihoods — agriculture, tourism, crafts and logistics. The programme aims to create sustainable economic activity around the river corridor.
NMCGPort-led development programme encompassing port modernisation, port connectivity, port-led industrialisation and coastal community development. Synergises with inland waterway development for multimodal logistics.
Sagarmala