India Achieves Record-Breaking Cargo Movement in Inland Water Transport

India’s inland water transport (IWT) sector has achieved a major milestone with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) reporting a record 145.5 million tonnes of cargo moved during the fiscal year 2024-25. This accomplishment highlights the success of sustained investments and policy measures aimed at improving the country’s inland waterway infrastructure. Additionally, the number of operational national waterways grew from 24 to 29, demonstrating a strategic shift towards multimodal connectivity and sustainable transport solutions.

Impressive Cargo Traffic Growth Over the Past Decade

Cargo traffic on India’s National Waterways has experienced a remarkable increase from 18.10 million metric tonnes (MMT) in FY-14 to 145.5 MMT in FY-25, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.86%. In FY-25, cargo movement showed a year-on-year growth of 9.34% compared to FY-24. Five key commodities—coal, iron ore, iron ore fines, sand, and fly ash—accounted for over 68% of the total cargo transported on the national waterways during this period. In 2023-24, passenger movement also reached 1.61 crore.

Expansion of National Waterways

Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, the IWAI has expanded the network of National Waterways (NWs) from 5 to 111. Since 2014, the Indian government has invested approximately ₹6,434 crore to enhance waterway infrastructure. The operational length of national waterways has increased from 2,716 km in 2014-15 to 4,894 km in 2023-24. Key projects include fairway maintenance, community jetties, floating terminals, multi-modal terminals (MMTs), inter-modal terminals (IMTs), and navigational locks.

To support business efficiency, the IWAI has introduced digital tools such as the Least Available Depth Information System (LADIS), River Information System (RIS), Car-D, the Portal for Navigational Information (PANI), and the Management Information and Reporting Solution (MIRS). Additionally, green initiatives like Hybrid Electric Catamarans and Hydrogen Vessels are being deployed to reduce pollution and boost river tourism.

Ambitious Targets and Sustainable Growth

The Indian government has set ambitious goals for the inland waterways sector, aiming to increase the share of freight moved via IWT from 2% to 5%. The target is to reach over 200 million metric tonnes of traffic by 2030, as part of the Maritime India Vision 2030, and exceed 500 million metric tonnes by 2047 under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

Also Read: Best Water Stocks in India for March 2025

Conclusion

India’s focused development of inland waterways has yielded substantial results, with record-breaking cargo movements and significant infrastructure expansion. The combination of strategic investments, forward-thinking policies, and technological innovations positions the country to continue strengthening its inland water transport sector, driving both sustainable transportation and economic growth.

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