The third meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC)—the apex body for policy deliberation on the promotion and development of inland waterways in India—will be held at Kochi, Kerala, on January 23. There is considerable anticipation that the meeting will lead to major announcements aimed at boosting infrastructure along national waterways.
The first IWDC meeting was held in 2024 on National Waterway-1 (Ganga) in Kolkata, followed by the second meeting in 2025 on National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra) in Kaziranga. Kochi has been chosen as the venue for the third meeting as it lies on National Waterway-3.
The day-long meeting will be chaired by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal. Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur, along with waterways ministers and senior officials from all states and Union Territories, will also participate.
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The meeting is expected to feature announcements of new initiatives and the exchange of Service Support Agreements (SSAs) with state governments. It will include a review of the Inland Waterways Authority of India’s (IWAI) activities and future action plans, as well as an assessment of measures taken following the second IWDC meeting. State-specific issues related to inland water transport will also be discussed.
At the previous IWDC meeting, Union Minister Sonowal unveiled initiatives worth over Rs 1,400 crore to strengthen the inland waterways transport network across 21 states. To ensure the safe, seamless, and sustainable movement of inland vessels, the National River Traffic and Navigation System (NRT&NS) was launched. The Riverine Community Development Scheme was also proposed to enhance the socio-economic well-being of riverine and coastal communities.
Last year, Minister Sonowal announced plans to launch 1,000 green vessels over the next five years to promote sustainable inland waterway transport. The upcoming IWDC meeting will further deliberate on building resilient urban water transport systems, improving cargo transport efficiency, promoting green passenger vessels, boosting river cruise tourism, and adopting digital and sustainable practices. It will also review the regulatory framework governing inland waterways and address concerns raised by states regarding ongoing and proposed projects.
“Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the IWDC has emerged as a truly collaborative national platform, bringing together policymakers and state governments to shape the future of inland waterways,” said Sunil Paliwal, Chairman of IWAI. He added that the council has become a catalyst for aligning Centre–State priorities and translating policy intent into actionable outcomes, while advancing a greener and more efficient transport ecosystem.
Paliwal noted that by integrating infrastructure development with sustainability and community participation, the council is reviving India’s riverine heritage and repositioning inland waterways as a preferred mode of transport for both cargo and passengers. “In Kochi, we aim to consolidate the progress made since IWDC 1.0 in 2024 and IWDC 2.0 in 2025, accelerate project execution, and scale technology-driven green inland waterways in close partnership with states,” he said.