IWAI takes key decisions for advancing Inland Water Transport

In its 197^th Board Meeting the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) took key decisions to advance the inland water transport (IWT) sector in India. The IWAI Board approved a comprehensive plan to develop National Waterway-2 (River Brahmaputra) while also clearing the proposal of developing a link road connecting Ship Repair Facility to Pandu Terminal on NW-2 in Assam. An amendment in the Inland Waterways Authority of India (Classification of National Waterways) Regulations, 2022 was also approved by the Board.

The comprehensive plan to develop National Waterway-2 in Assam over the next three years entails a series of steps including fairway development, terminal infrastructure, navigation aids, green energy initiatives, skill development center, vessel operations, maintenance and dry docking within the ambit of IWT promotion in the country’s North-Eastern Region (NER). The proposal for constructing a link road from NER’s first upcoming Ship Repair Facility to IWT terminal at Pandu will ease the movement of heavy machineries/equipment and vehicles during the operational stage of the facility. It will also provide seamless connectivity from Pandu Port to NH-27 using the dedicated road which is under construction. IWT projects worth over 1500 crores are presently being implemented in the region.

The IWAI Board also cleared an important amendment in the Inland Waterways Authority of India (Classification of National Waterways) Regulations, 2022. The distance between the navigation channel and the outer edge of a jetty have been rationalized in the amended regulations.

Apart from this, IWAI has engaged NTCPWC (National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts), IIT Madras for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the extension of National Waterway-64 (River Mahanadi) from Sambalpur barrage in Odisha to Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh. The work will also include studying the feasibility of setting up MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) facilities in Hirakud – as requested by the state government of Odisha.

Besides, a proposal for creation of posts in IWAI based on the report on organizational restructuring by NISG (National Institute of Smart Government) has been approved by the Board. The Board was also apprised of the IWT promotion initiatives being taken in Jammu and Kashmir which includes creation of river navigation infrastructure on three national waterways (NW-84, NW-49 and NW-26) in the union territory.