IWAI, Cochin Shipyard Review Hybrid Electric Catamaran Project; Two Vessels to be Deployed in Patna
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) officials recently held a review meeting with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) on the progress of Hybrid Electric Catamaran vessels being built at Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited (HCSL) in West Bengal.
These modern, eco-friendly vessels are designed to provide safe, efficient, and green passenger transport on India’s inland waterways. Two of them are slated for deployment in Patna, Bihar, on National Waterway-1 (NW-1), a key stretch of the Ganga river that connects major trade and passenger hubs.
The project is part of IWAI’s broader push to modernize inland waterway transport with sustainable technologies, reduce carbon emissions, and improve connectivity for passengers in urban and semi-urban centers along the river.
Officials noted that the deployment in Patna will not only enhance river-based passenger services but also demonstrate the viability of hybrid-electric solutions in India’s inland waterways sector.