India’s inland waterways sector has achieved a significant milestone, with cargo transportation on National Waterways (NWs) reaching an all-time high of 145.84 million metric tonnes (MMT) in FY25, according to the government. Passenger traffic also witnessed a sharp surge, rising to 7.6 crore in 2024–25 from 1.61 crore in the previous year, reflecting growing adoption of water-based transport.
India currently has a network of 111 National Waterways spanning 20,187 km, of which 32 waterways covering 5,155 km are operational. The number of operational waterways is expected to increase to 52 over the next five years. Cargo movement has continued to accelerate, touching 198 MMT in FY26 (till February 2026), indicating sustained growth momentum in the sector.
The expansion of inland waterways aligns with broader improvements in maritime infrastructure. The combined cargo handling capacity of major ports has increased substantially from 555 million metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) in FY14 to 1,681 MTPA in FY25. Operational efficiency has also improved, with the turnaround time for container vessels reducing from 41.76 hours in 2013–14 to 28.5 hours in 2024–25.
Policy support has played a key role in driving this growth. The Union Budget 2026–27 announced plans to operationalise 20 additional National Waterways over the next five years and introduced a Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme aimed at shifting freight from road and rail to more cost-effective and environmentally friendly water transport. The government aims to increase the combined share of inland waterways and coastal shipping from 6 per cent to 12 per cent by 2047.
As part of this strategy, National Waterway-5 in Odisha will be operationalised to link mineral-rich regions such as Talcher and Angul with industrial hubs like Kalinga Nagar and key ports including Paradip and Dhamra. The project is expected to enhance logistics efficiency and support industrial growth in the region. Additionally, Regional Centres of Excellence will be set up along the NW-5 corridor to train skilled manpower and create employment opportunities for local communities.
Further strengthening the ecosystem, the government plans to establish dedicated ship repair facilities for inland vessels in Varanasi and Patna. Under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision, India aims to increase the modal share of inland water transport from 2 per cent to 5 per cent, while expanding cargo volumes to over 200 MMT by 2030 and 500 MMT by 2047.
The latest figures underline the growing importance of inland waterways in India’s logistics framework, supported by infrastructure upgrades, policy initiatives, and a long-term vision to build a more sustainable and efficient transport network.
