The Government of India is promoting Inland Water Transport (IWT) as a core pillar of India’s multimodal transport system under Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. The stated objective is to build world-class waterway infrastructure and operational capability through fairway development, multimodal terminals, digital navigation tools, and green vessel technologies, integrated with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

What happened (policy package and implementation changes)

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, is spearheading the development and regulation of National Waterways (NWs). The Government’s communication links infrastructure, regulation, and digital systems to create a technology-driven IWT ecosystem. IWAI’s digital reforms are meant to simplify navigation planning, vessel and crew registration, cargo tracking, and hydrographic charting across National Waterways.

The Government’s communication also links IWT with a regulatory and incentive toolkit aimed at expanding private investment and shifting cargo to waterways. The release highlights progress on operationalising National Waterways and additional measures including tonnage taxation support, notified regulations for terminals and jetties, and cargo-shift mechanisms involving public sector undertakings (PSUs).

Background and earlier position

IWT capacity building in India has historically depended on navigable waterway development within National Waterways and on operational coordination for vessel movement, cargo handling, and logistics reliability. The Government communication indicates an increased emphasis on end-to-end digital governance and visibility across navigation planning, registration and tracking, cargo data integration, and hydrographic charting.

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