The Government is making all efforts to develop the National Waterways in the country . As per the feasibility reports completed so far for the 106 new National Waterways, 32 have been found technically viable.
Out of these 32 waterways, Detailed Project Reports (DPR) have been prepared for 8 waterways.
Based on these DPRs, tender for development of river Barak (NW-16) was invited and is in the final stage.
Tender document preparation for the development of river Ghagra (NW-40), Gandak (NW-37) and Kosi (NW-58) are in progress.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) for development of river Mandovi (NW-68), Zuari (NW-111) and Cumberjua canal (NW-27) in Goa.
Sunderban waterways (NW 97) is already in use.
As per estimates, the logistics cost for movement of cargo in our country is about 19% of GDP.
Out of the total logistics modal mix, the share of coastal and Inland waterways is approximately 6% and their cost is stated to be Rs. 0.2-0.3 per Ton km, which is much less as compared to Road (Rs. 2.3 per ton km) and Railways (Rs. 1.2-1.5 per ton km) .
As part of Sagarmala programme, the share of inland waterways and coastal shipping in modal mix is expected to double by 2025, thereby reducing logistics cost significantly.
Six Rivers of Goa to be developed as National Waterways:
Total 106 new waterways have been declared as National Waterways (NWs) under the National Waterways Act, 2016, in addition to the five existing NWs notified earlier. Specific stretches of six rivers of Goa viz. Chapora (NW-25), Cumberjua Canal (NW-27), Mandovi (NW-68), Mapusa (NW-71), Sal (NW-88) and Zuari (NW-111) have been included in the declared NWs.
Detailed Project Reports have been prepared for the rivers Mandovi, Zuari and Cumberjua. For the remaining three NWs, two-stage DPR studies (Stage-I – Feasibility study) and (Stage-II-DPR) have been awarded. The requirement of land and civil structural interventions and the requirement of funds for the development of the six NWs in Goa would be known after the finalization of the DPRs.
For development of NWs in Goa, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) with Mormugao Port Trust (MPT). Expenditure to develop these waterways will be met from Government Budgetary Support (GBS), extra budgetary resources such as bonds, MPT and Government of Goa.
