India’s inland waterways push has gathered fresh momentum, with Uttar Pradesh emerging as a key hub on the Ganga. At India Maritime Week 2025, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth over Rs 6,000 crore to expand and modernise National Waterway-1 (NW-1) on the river Ganga, the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said.
The investments span river cruise tourism, ship repair, cargo movement, clean-energy infrastructure and skill development, with a sharp focus on Varanasi.
IWAI has tied up with private operators Heritage River Journeys and Alaknanda Cruises to induct new cruise vessels and scale up premium river tourism and heritage circuits in and around Varanasi, with more than Rs 800 crore earmarked for these projects.
A new ship repair facility in the city, at a planned investment of Rs 350 crore, and two river cruise terminals worth Rs 200 crore are expected to position Varanasi as a regional maritime services and cruise hub.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal called the agreements “a transformative moment for India’s maritime future,” adding that “these MoUs demonstrate how inland waterways are emerging as engines of growth, tourism and regional integration”. To support greener transport, a Rs 100 crore project will roll out electric vessel charging infrastructure on NW-1 under the National Green Shipping Mission.
Cargo movement, too, is set for a boost. A landmark Rs 1,000 crore MoU with Rhenus Logistics will bring modern tug-barges to the Ganga and Brahmaputra (NW-1 and NW-2), increasing freight capacity and improving multimodal logistics. Another Rs 200 crore has been allocated for a Regional Centre of Excellence in Varanasi to train manpower and drive research in vessel design, inland navigation and green technologies. Additionally, MoUs worth Rs 1,500 crore each with NTCPWC of IIT Madras (for dredging supervision) and IPRCL (for rail connectivity to multimodal terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia) aim to integrate waterways with rail under PM Gati Shakti.
“These initiatives build a holistic, future-ready inland waterway network that supports green growth and economic opportunity,” Minister of State Shantanu Thakur said, crediting the renewed focus on waterways for turning the Ganga into “a powerful corridor for trade, mobility and tourism”.
