Kochi will host a meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) on January 23, bringing together key stakeholders to review progress and chart the next phase of India’s inland waterways development.
The meeting is expected to focus on accelerating infrastructure projects, improving cargo and passenger movement, and enhancing private sector participation across national waterways. Senior officials from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, state governments, and maritime agencies are likely to attend.
Discussions will also cover issues related to multimodal connectivity, last-mile linkages, sustainability, and the use of inland waterways to reduce logistics costs and congestion on road and rail networks.
Kochi’s selection as the venue highlights Kerala’s growing role in inland water transport, with the state emerging as a key hub for waterways-based cargo and passenger services along the west coast and interconnected canals.