The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has released official operational status and performance data for India’s inland waterways under the National Waterways (NWs) programme. The release states that 32 National Waterways are operational across India with a total navigable length of 5,155 km, and it also gives year-wise funding allocation and utilisation for the last five years (with 2025-26 marked un-audited).
What happened: operational National Waterways, funding allocation/utilisation, and cargo/passenger indicators
As per the government release, the inland waterways system under National Waterways includes both the broad NW network (32 operational NWs) and several major components tracked separately in funding and traffic statistics.
Operational network size and components tracked
The government states the existence of 32 operational National Waterways with total navigable length of 5,155 km throughout India. The release also provides year-wise fund allocation and utilisation for NW development during the last five years.
Year-wise funds allocated and utilised for National Waterways development (Rs. in crore)
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