Government to set up integrated national waterways transport grid

The government is considering a proposal to set up an Integrated National Waterways Transport Grid (INWTG), involving the creation of new waterways or upgrading existing ones with water depths of a minimum 2.5 metres, covering mainly the five existing national waterways.

''The INWTG includes development of the national waterways with at least 2.5 meter least available depth (LAD), upgrading / setting up of priority terminals, establishing road connectivity, wherever feasible, rail and port connectivity,'' minister of state for shipping Pon Radhakrishnan informed the Rajya Sabha today.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has identified 31 terminals across the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh for construction of terminals on national waterways, the minister stated.

With the establishment of the INWTG, the national waterways would be connected to national / state highways and would become an integral part of the transportation grid in the country, he added.

The minister also informed the House that a proposal for declaration of 101 additional waterways as national waterways is under consideration. The proposal covers waterways across the country with potential for year round commercial navigation.

IWAI, he stated, is conducting feasibility studies on the proposed new waterways for finding out their potential for year round commercial navigation.

Based on the outcome of the study, further steps would be taken for the development of the proposed national waterways.

However, these have to be first declared as national waterways before a time-frame for developing these national waterways can be finalised, he added.