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A Green Revolution on India's Waterways: Boosting Trade, Tourism, and Connectivity
Harit Nauka Guidelines Pave the Way for a Green Future
In a powerful declaration, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal affirmed that the Inland Waterways Authority is fully committed to the "Harit Nauka Guidelines," championing green and sustainable transport solutions. This commitment includes the procurement of cutting-edge electric catamarans and hydrogen fuel cell-powered vessels, showcasing a clear vision for eco-friendly navigation. The focus on strengthening urban water transport through water metro projects and promoting eco-friendly cruise tourism is set to redefine the landscape of inland waterways, promising a cleaner, greener future.
Regional Waterways Grid: A Game-Changer for the Northeast
A key initiative highlighted was the "Regional Waterways Grid," designed to seamlessly integrate Assam and the Northeast with the rest of India via an expansive network of inland waterways. This strategic move is poised to unlock immense economic potential across the Brahmaputra and Barak River systems, significantly boosting regional trade, tourism, and overall connectivity. Reinforcing this commitment, the government is also working on a substantial ₹5,000 crore roadmap for Inland Waterways Development in the Northeast over the next five years.
The committee also undertook a comprehensive review of ongoing works across major National Waterways (NWs), including NW-1 (River Ganga) and NW-2 (Brahmaputra), along with projects in Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir, Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, demonstrating a nationwide focus on waterways development.
River Cruise Tourism: Navigating Towards Unprecedented Growth
India's river cruise tourism is experiencing an unprecedented surge, with an impressive 15 river cruise circuits now operational across 13 National Waterways in nine states. This marks a significant leap from just three NWs supporting river cruises in 2013-14 to 13 in 2024-25. The luxury river cruise vessel fleet has also expanded dramatically, from merely three to 25 vessels during the same period. To further fuel this growth, 51 additional cruise circuits have been identified on 47 NWs for development by 2027.
Ambitious plans for world-class river cruise terminals are also underway, with construction already commenced in Kolkata. Feasibility studies for terminals in Varanasi and Guwahati are being meticulously conducted by IIT Madras, while four more terminals at Silghat, Bishwanath Ghat, Neamati, and Guijan are slated for development by 2027.
Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Shantanu Thakur, emphasized the dedicated efforts to advance river cruise tourism across India through the development of modern cruise terminals and related infrastructure. He highlighted strategic partnerships and MoUs with private enterprises aimed at boosting luxury river cruises on the Ganga and Brahmaputra, while also expanding cruise tourism on the Yamuna, Narmada, and key rivers in Jammu & Kashmir. These initiatives, he noted, are crucial not only for promoting tourism but also for fostering sustainable economic growth in the regions they serve.
The Consultative Committee meeting saw the active participation of several Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs, including Shatrughan Prasad Sinha (Asansol, West Bengal), Bibhu Prasad Tarai (Jagdispur, Odisha), Hibi Eden (Ernakulum, Kerala), M.K. Raghavan (Kozhikode, Kerala), Naba Charan Majhi (Mayurbhanj, Odisha), Abhimanyu Sethi (Odisha), and Seema Dwivedi (Uttar Pradesh), underscoring the broad political consensus and commitment to this transformative agenda for India's inland waterways.
(Source-pib)
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