The third meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC 3.0) concluded on Friday with a comprehensive roadmap to expand India’s inland water transport (IWT) network, approve key infrastructure investments and strengthen Centre–state coordination to unlock the economic potential of the country’s rivers.
Chaired by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, the meeting underscored inland waterways as a strategic pillar of India’s transport and logistics transformation. The minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focused push on waterways has helped ease road congestion, reduce logistics costs and improve ease of doing business.
Kerala emerged as a key focus area at IWDC 3.0, with several major initiatives announced to strengthen inland water transport and logistics in the state. Sonowal said the Jal Vahak cargo promotion scheme is being explored for expansion to additional National Waterways, including those in Kerala. Under the scheme, cargo movement through inland waterways could be eligible for reimbursement of up to 35% of total operating expenditure.
The scheme is expected to encourage greater private sector participation by allowing cargo owners to hire vessels operated by entities other than the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) or Inland and Coastal Shipping Ltd (ICSL). This is likely to attract major shipping companies, freight forwarders, trade bodies and operators handling bulk and containerised cargo.
The Kerala package also includes the development of river cruise jetties and the induction of a survey vessel, aimed at strengthening the state’s capacity for passenger movement, tourism and safe navigation.
“With rapid expansion in cargo movement, passenger services and cruise tourism, our rivers are becoming engines of sustainable mobility and economic opportunity,” Sonowal said. He added that integrating clean energy vessels, smart navigation systems and world-class passenger infrastructure would help reduce logistics costs, cut emissions and generate new livelihoods.
Highlighting the success of the Kochi Water Metro, the minister said similar models would be replicated in cities such as Guwahati, Varanasi, Patna, Tezpur and Dibrugarh to promote inclusive growth in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat.
IWDC 3.0 also announced the commencement of Fixed Day Scheduled Sailing Services on commercially viable stretches, demonstrating the readiness of inland waterways as an efficient, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable mode of cargo transport.