For centuries, vessels from distant lands thronged Kochi to load goods for overseas markets. European powers later fought to control the port for the same reason. But, as colonial administrators, and later governments in independent India, focused increasingly on roads and railways, rivers and inland waterways slipped into neglect. Kochi’s once-thriving inland waterways shared the fate.
That trajectory is now changing. India’s inland waterways and maritime domains are undergoing a transformative phase, and Kochi—true to its historical role—recently hosted the third meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC). The meeting concluded with a comprehensive roadmap to expand the country’s inland water transport network and deepen Centre–state coordination to unlock the economic potential of India’s rivers.
Notably, this marks the 40th year of the establishment of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)—the regulatory body for national waterways—and India’s first national waterway, the Ganga–Bhagirathi–Hooghly river system. Interestingly, in the first three decades of IWAI’s existence, only five national waterways were declared, and there was little governmental support to reclaim waterways as key elements of trade and transport. Change began in 2016, when the first Narendra Modi government declared 106 new national waterways in one go. The establishment of the IWDC in 2023 gave real momentum for transformation.
In 2013–14, only three national waterways were operational. By 2024–25, the number had risen to 32, and by 2027, it is anticipated to rise to 76. Cargo movement has increased by 706 per cent since 2013, and budgetary allocation has grown sixfold. “As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often noted, ‘rivers should not only carry water; they must carry prosperity,’” said Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, who chaired the meeting.
The IWDC has been meeting annually since 2024. The first meeting on National Waterway-1 (the Ganga) in Kolkata was followed by the second in 2025 on National Waterway-2 (the Brahmaputra) in Kaziranga. Kochi was chosen as the third venue, as it lies on National Waterway-3.
A key sentiment at the third meeting was the recognition that the success of inland waterways ultimately depended on state governments. “That is why cooperative federalism lies at the heart of our strategy,” said the Union minister. The day-long meeting was attended by senior ministers from six states and bureaucrats from several others, along with Vijay Kumar, secretary, Union ministry for ports, shipping and waterways; Sunil Paliwal, chairperson, IWAI; Sunil Kumar Singh, vice chairman, IWAI; and industry representatives and experts.
The meeting reviewed goals set during previous IWDC sessions, along with an assessment of state-level concerns. Detailed analyses were presented on the status and action taken on over 45 projects requiring Centre–state coordination, ranging from physical infrastructure development and feasibility studies to vessel and pontoon procurement and river cruise tourism initiatives.
Projects worth over Rs1,500 crore were identified to accelerate green mobility, strengthen multimodal logistics, and promote river-led economic development. Foundation stones were laid for projects exceeding Rs150 crore, including river cruise jetties in Kerala, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha and Telangana.
Asset procurement worth more than Rs465 crore was also announced. This includes survey vessels in Kerala; Ro-Pax berthing jetties in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal; floating pontoons and quick-opening mechanisms in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal; hybrid survey vessels; amphibian and cutter suction dredgers; and tug-barge units.
Several digital initiatives for inland waterways were also discussed, including the Cargo Data Portal (CAR-D Portal), a centralised database capturing cargo and cruise movement data; NauDarshika, a digital tool for river navigation and related services; and the IWAI Vessel Tracker for real-time vessel monitoring and safety.
The council was also briefed on major new projects worth over Rs900 crore, including a slipway facility at Kochi; construction of 110 jetties across Odisha (25) and the northeast (85); implementation of the National River Traffic and Navigation System in Maharashtra; a Rs70-crore cruise terminal at Uzan Bazar Ghat in Guwahati; and a Rs144-crore approach road connectivity project to the Bogibeel River Port in Dibrugarh.
There was special emphasis on the northeast. The government plans to develop 85 jetties across the region with an investment exceeding Rs500 crore, strengthening regional logistics integration. “Inland waterways will not only bring the northeast closer to national markets, but also unlock its role as a gateway for growth, prosperity and regional integration,” said Sonowal.
Notably, among the six state ministers who participated in IWDC 3.0, two were from the northeast: K.G. Kenye, minister of power and parliamentary affairs, Nagaland; and Ojing Tasing, minister of rural development, Arunachal Pradesh.
A special session on the Kochi Water Metro—India’s first and Asia’s largest integrated water transport system, jointly funded by the Kerala government and the German funding agency KfW—was also held during the meeting. An IWAI-commissioned feasibility study for urban water transport systems modelled on the Kochi Water Metro is currently under way in 18 cities across nine states and three Union territories.