The government on October 5, 2016 initiated works for developing 8 waterways which have high potential and are financially viable for development.
The tendering for Barak, Ghaghra, Gandak and Kosi rivers has been initiated for fairway development. The tenders for terminal development will be rolled out by year end. In case of other short-listed waterways, detailed project reports are being prepared.
About 18 of the newly declared 106 wuterways may not be technically viable due to traffic issues. The feasibility report of another 52 are being assessed to take a final call, as per Inland Waterways Authority of India (IAWI) chairman Amitabh Verma.
Since the IWAI was set up in 1986, only Rs 1,500 crore was spent till last year, indicating how developing waterways was never a priority of the earlier governments. This year, the government is targeting to spend Rs 1,300 crore and it will be Rs 1,500 crore next year.
The shipping ministry has identified 37 of the recently notified 106 inland waterways to develop them for transport of cargo and passengers in the next 2-3 years. These include rivers in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Assam and West Bengal.
As the government develops more stretches and create facilities, this can become a supplement to road and rail as a mode of transport for cargo and passenger movement as well since it's cheaper and safer. The government is also planning to come out with a new policy on dredging and a new Inland Vessel Act is also being prepared.
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