Inland Waterways in India- Explained Pointwise

Recently, the Central Government launched the Jalvahak scheme to boost long-haul cargo movement via inland waterways. The scheme incentivizes cargo transport on National Waterways 1 (Ganga), National Waterways 2 (Brahmaputra), and National Water Waterways 16 (Barak) and provides an opportunity for the trade interests to explore movement of cargo via waterways with positive economic value proposition. The Jalvahak scheme offers reimbursement of up to 35% of the total operating expenditure incurred.

In this article we will look at the status of Inland waterways sector in India. We will look at its advantages and the initiatives taken for its development. We will delve into the challenges that the sector faces with the way ahead for the sector. Inland Waterways in India

What is Inland Water Transport (IWT)? What is the status of Inland waterways in India?

Inland Water Transport- Inland water transport refers to the transportation of people, goods, and materials via waterways such as rivers, canals, lakes, and other navigable bodies of water that are located within a country’s boundaries.

Inland Waterways in India- Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, 111 waterways (including 5 existing and 106 new) spread over 24 States have been declared National Waterways (NWs) for development of Inland Water Transport (IWT) in the country. On the basis of outcome of techno-economic feasibility study and Detailed Project Report (DPR), 26 NWs which were found viable for cargo and passenger movement.

Increase in cargo movement- The cargo movement on national waterways has increased to over 133 million tons. The cargo volume through the inland waterway has recorded a CAGR growth of 22.1% over a period of ten years from FY 2014 to FY 2024.

What are the advantages of Inland Waterways in India?

1. Lower Transportation Costs- Inland water transport (IWT) is considerably cheaper than road and rail transport. It is reported to be 60% cheaper than road transport and 20-30% cheaper than rail.

2. Fuel and energy efficiency- It is a fuel and energy efficient medium of transportation as compared to the other modes of transport like rail and road. A/c to the Integrated National Waterways Transportation Grid Study states that one litre of fuel will move 24 tons through 1km on road, 85km on rail and 105 km on inland water transport.

3. Environment Friendly- IWT emits 10 times less carbon dioxide per ton-kilometer compared to road transport, contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

4. Less Land Requirement- Utilization of waterways minimizes the need for extensive land acquisition. The land acquisition is often a contentious and time-consuming process associated with road and rail projects.

5. Employment Generation- The development of inland waterways is labor-intensive, creating jobs in various sectors such as river conservancy, vessel operation, terminal management, and tourism.

6. Better connectivity- IWT helps in creating seamless interconnectivity connecting hinterlands along navigable river coasts and coastal routes. Further, riverine routes are likely to play a crucial role in connecting the north-eastern states to the mainland.

7. Tourism Development- Inland waterways can boost tourism through initiatives like river cruises. This helps to enhance passenger movement and also promote cultural and heritage tourism along riverbanks.

What are the government initiatives for the development of Inland Waterways in India?

What are the challenges in Inland Waterways in India?

IWT is the most economical mode of transportation, especially for bulk cargo like coal, iron ore, cement, food grains and fertilizer. However presently the IWT sector remains underutilized at a share of 2% in India’s modal mix due to the following challenges-

1. Infrastructural/Technical challenges- There is challenge of Inadequate depths in Indian rivers, especially northern rivers which suffer from high siltation. This necessitates extensive dredging of Indian rivers.

2. Lack of adequate Terminals- There is a shortage of modern terminals and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities for vessels, impacting their operational efficiency.

3. Environmental Concerns- Dredging activities necessary for maintaining navigability can lead to environmental degradation (like riverbed damage, aquatic species damage) and community resistance due to fears of displacement or ecological harm.

4. Technical Limitations- Low vertical clearances from bridges obstruct the passage of bigger vessels and the lack of Night Navigation Facilities such as Differential Global Positioning Systems (DGPS) hampers safe navigation at night.

5. Institutional and Regulatory challenges- The IWT sector is often burdened by regulatory complexities and overlapping jurisdictions among various government agencies. For ex- Multiple authorities including the Central Inland Water Corporation Limited (CIWTC Ltd), port authorities and state governments.

6. Lack of funds- Dredging as well as infrastructure for IWT requires huge investments. However, both public and private funding in the sector is low.

What should be the Way Forward for the development of Inland Waterways in India?

NITI Aayog has recommended the following measures for the development of Inland Waterways in India.

1. Streamline the governance of inland waterways- NITI Aayog recommends streamlining the regulatory structure and bringing an overarching body to oversee Inland Water Transport.

2. Develop measures for year-round navigation- Efforts should be made to develop deeper stretches of the river, i.e., at least 2.5 m to 3 m to achieve year-around navigation. Further the adequate maintenance of rivers, including continuous dredging to maintain adequate water depth for servicing shipping lines should be ensured.

3. Ease restrictions on river-sea movement- Utilizing a single vessel for both inland and coastal waters, lowers transport costs and minimizes handling. The state authorities should draw up coordinates for inland vessel limits under the Inland Vessel Act for their coastal waters

4. Creation of Inland Waterways transport hub in the North East- State governments should commence work on dredging and channel stabilization to create about 20 new ports in the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers. The protocol for Inland Waterways between Bangladesh and India should be extended for at least 10 years to reduce uncertainty.

5. Strengthen public-private partnership- Private players can undertake terminal development, cargo and passenger handling, and building low-draft vessels and related repair facilities.

6. Increasing economic activities along the Inland waterways- PM Mitra parks, Mega food parks, should be located along the inland waterways route to encourage use of National Waterways (NWs).