The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, attributes this growth to several key.
Expansion of Operational Waterways: The number of operational national waterways increased from 24 to 29 during FY 2024–25, enhancing connectivity and cargo movement .
Jalvahak Scheme: This incentive program encourages cargo owners to shift from traditional transport modes to inland water transport (IWT). The scheme aims to transition 800 million tonne-kilometres of cargo to IWT, contributing nearly 17% of the current cargo volume .
Scheduled Cargo Services: Regular cargo services on National Waterways 1, 2, and 16, facilitated through the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol, have streamlined operations and boosted cargo traffic .
The bulk of the cargo—over 68%—comprised five key commodities: coal, iron ore, iron ore fines, sand, and fly ash .
This achievement underscores the growing importance of inland waterways in India’s logistics and transportation sector, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional modes of transport.
