India Develops 111 Inland Waterways

The government of India has informed that 111 waterways are being developed in phased manner as National Waterways (NWs) in the country for the purpose of shipping and navigation.

The Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya that various initiatives have been taken by the Government to increase the use of Inland Waterways and Coastal Shipping for greater cargo shipment.

These include providing assured depth of water in the channels, navigation aids like GPS and River Information System, terminals at regular intervals, facilities for mechanized handling of cargo handling etc.

The Minister also informed that cargo transportation on waterways rose to 72.31 Million Tonnes in the year 2018-19, from 55.20 MT in 2016-17 and 55.03 MT in 2017-18.

According to government agencies, National Waterways are the cheapest mode of transporting goods as compared to other ways of freight transportation.

A minimum 40 % discount and priority in berthing is being given to coastal vessels at major ports. Ministry of Fertilizers and Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade have respectively agreed to provide subsidy for transportation of fertilizers and for transportation of  raw materials and finished goods for new industrial units in North Eastern Region through IWT mode.

Licensing relaxations have been made under section 406 and 407 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1958 for fertilizers, agricultural products, fisheries, horticultural, and animal husbandry products, empty containers and containers being transshipped from another Indian port, special vessels such as Ro-Ro, Ro-Pax, Project cargo/ODC.

Allowing carriage of coastal containers through the territorial waters of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar and streamlining of mechanism for freight subsidy reimbursement for fertilizers are other steps taken in this direction.