The Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) is planning to invest more than Rs 500 billion over the next five years to enhance inland waterways. A series of new initiatives across 21 inland waterways were announced, worth more than Rs 14 billion. These announcements were made at the second meeting of IWDC, organised by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), at Kaziranga in Assam on January 10, 2025.
Meanwhile, a Riverine Community Development Scheme was proposed at the IWDC to improve the socio-economic well-being of coastal communities by developing infrastructure, promoting trade and tourism, and preserving the riverine ecosystem.
Also, a ship repair facility will be constructed at Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh to minimise downtime caused by emergent breakdowns or planned periodic maintenance of inland vessels.
The government is also working to rejuvenate the support system for inland waterways to decongest railways and roadways while providing a viable, economical, sustainable, and efficient mode of transportation for both passengers and cargo operators.