Context: The first meeting of Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) was convened under the leadership of Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) on 8th January 2024 on board the MV Ganga Queen in Kolkata. During the meeting, HARIT NAUKA GUIDELINES and RIVER CRUISE TOURISM ROADMAP - 2047 were released.
The meeting will focus on airway development, private sector engagement and best practices, optimizing cargo transport efficiency in Inland Water Transport (IWT), fostering the promotion and development of eco-friendly vessels for passenger transportation, exploring the economic advantages of river cruise tourism, and emphasizing sustainable practices etc.
Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC)
- The Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) was established in 2013 under the guidance of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
- The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways is the chairman of the IWDC. Ministers of States/UTs and representatives of other union ministers are also members of this body.
- IWDC aims to accelerate the holistic development of Inland Water Transport in India. This will lead to enhanced cargo, passenger movement and river cruise tourism.
- Functions of Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC)
- Development and Maintenance of Inland Water Transport Infrastructure:
- It focuses on enhancing the infrastructure for India's inland water transport (IWT), which includes a network of rivers, canals, backwaters, and creeks.
- The IWAI, with its head office in Noida, undertakes projects for the development and maintenance of IWT infrastructure on national waterways, supported by grants from the Ministry of Shipping.
- Investment in River Cruise Tourism:
- The Council has committed a significant investment for the development of river cruise tourism in India.
- This includes earmarking funds for cruise vessels and cruise terminal infrastructure, aiming to substantially increase the number of river cruise circuits and terminals by 2047.
- Enhancing Cargo Trade:
- The IWDC is working to increase the volume of cargo trade through inland waterways, with plans to boost the capacity and infrastructure to handle a much larger volume of cargo by 2047
- Promotion of Eco-Friendly Transportation:
- The Council is focused on promoting the use of electric, hybrid, hydrogen, and other eco-friendly propulsion fuels for ships.
- This is part of its broader initiative to ensure sustainable and eco-friendly development of inland waterways.
Vision for Inland Waterways Sector
- Increase the modal share of the inland waterways sector from the current 2% to 5% by 2030.
- Substantially increase the existing IWT cargo volume from 120 MTPA to over 500 MTPA by 2047.
"Harit Nauka – Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels" and the
"Harit Nauka" guidelines aim to promote eco-friendly and sustainable practices in the operation of inland vessels. These guidelines are part of a broader effort to increase the modal share of Inland Water Transportation (IWT) from the current 2% to 5% by 2030, in alignment with the Maritime India Vision 2030. Key initiatives include:
- Use of electric, hybrid, hydrogen, and derivative propulsion fuels for ships.
- Deployment of electric catamaran vessels for pilgrimage tourism.
- Focus on transforming logistics and passenger movement through IWT.
River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047
The "River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047" sets out an ambitious vision for the development of river cruise tourism in India. Key points include:
- A ₹45,000 crore investment to develop river cruise tourism, which is part of the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
- The investment breakdown includes ₹35,000 crore for cruise vessels and ₹10,000 crore for cruise terminal infrastructure.
- Plans to expand river cruise tourism from 8 to 26 waterways and increase cruise circuits with night stays from 17 to 80.
- The number of river cruise terminals is expected to rise from 15 to 185, significantly boosting cruise tourism traffic by 2047.
- The roadmap outlines over 30 potential cruise routes and includes an action plan for river cruise development.
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) Role
- The IWAI, established in 1986, is responsible for the development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation. IWAI's network spans 14,500 km of navigable waterways. The authority's role includes building infrastructure, surveying economic feasibility, and administering projects to enhance cargo efficiency and passenger movement.
Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP)
The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) is a significant infrastructure project in India aimed at developing National Waterway-1 (NW-1) for enhanced navigation and transportation.
key details:
- Background and Implementation: Initiated in 2014, the JMVP is being implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Shipping, with financial support from the World Bank. The project seeks to augment the capacity of navigation on National Waterway-1, which spans from Haldia in West Bengal to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, covering a distance of 1,380 kilometers.
- Objectives:
- Develop a fairway with a depth of 3 meters between Varanasi and Haldia, enabling commercial navigation of vessels with a minimum weight of 1500 tonnes.
- Provide an environmentally friendly and cost-effective mode of transportation, reducing logistics costs in the country.
- Build infrastructures such as multi-modal and inter-modal terminals, Ro-Ro facilities, ferry services, and navigation aids.
- Create significant employment opportunities, both directly and indirectly, through various development activities associated with the project.
- Components:
- Key components of the JMVP include the development of fairways, construction of multi-modal terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj, and Haldia, and new navigation locks, among others.
- The project also focuses on building essential infrastructure to support the operationalization and sustainability of the waterway.
- Financial Aspects: The estimated cost of the project is around Rs. 5,369 crore (approximately 800 million US Dollars). The project has witnessed prudent financial management, leading to substantial savings from the initially estimated costs.
- Strategic Importance:
- National Waterway-1 is expected to play a crucial role in enhancing connectivity, not just within India but also with neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and Nepal, via the Kolkata Port and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route.
- The project is aligned with India's broader objectives of promoting economic integration and sustainable development through efficient use of inland waterways.