Figure 21 – NATIONAL WATERWAYS (NWS) OF INDIA

transportation. Inland Water Transport (IWT) is a fuel efficient, environment friendly and cost effective mode of transport. Currently, there are five national waterways(NW) and sixth is being under consideration(figure 21). Following is the details of NWs:

NW1 is from Allahabad to Haldia with total length of 1620 kms. It is being used by tourism vessels, ODC carriers, IWAI vessels. Many coal based plants are located along Ganga and thus, are potential revenue source for inland navigation sector. NW2 waterways is from Sadiya town in Assam to Dhubri at Bangladesh border with total length of 891 km. it is used by tourism vessels, Border security forces, Assam government, and private vessels. NW3 waterway involves multiple canals on the western coast. It involves West coast canal(168km), Udyogmandal canal(23km), and Champakara canal (14km). It is one of the most navigable and tourism potential area in India. Raw material for fertilizer plants is major part of movement. Similarly, NW4 waterway involves Kakinada-Puducherry canala (767km), Godavari river (171 km), and

Krishna river (157 km). Coal on Godavari river, Cement on Krishna river and rice on both rivers, and other such food commodities are major transport on this waterway. NW5 waterway consists of stretches such as Mahanadi Delta(101km), Brahmani and others (265km), Matai river(40km) and Geonkhali-Charbatia(217km). Coal is the major commodity on transportation here. Declaration of Barak river from Bhanga to Lakhipur (121 km) in the State of Assam as National Waterway is under consideration of Govt. Budget 2013 stressed on waterways connectivity for northeast India. Poor maintenance of NW is a major challenge for the government. Inland water navigation is cheaper as compared to other transport modes but does not get same level of subsidy by the government for transporting various commodities such as PDS food etc.