Development of India's National Waterways
Under the National Waterways Act, 2016 of India, a total of 111 waterways have been declared as National Waterways (NWs).
Out of these 111 NWs, NWs-1, 2 and 3 are operational and cargo and passenger vessels are moving on them, while for NW-4, the development works under Phase-I from Muktyala to Vijaywada started in 2017.
Further, for development of NW-5, preparation of DPR including Front End Engineering Design (FEED) for the construction of weirs/ barrages with navigational locks and check dams between Pankapal and Paradip/ Dhamra (Phase-I) has been sanctioned.
The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) has been commissioned with technical and financial assistance of the World Bank for the capacity augmentation of NW-1 (Ganga) from Haldia to Varanasi (1380 km).
The JMVP aims at developing the fairway to enable safe navigation of 1,500-2,000 ton vessels. The project would be completed by 2022-23 at an estimated cost of Rs.5,369 crore.
Out of the 106 newly declared NWs, 36 NWs are considered technically feasible for development of shipping and navigation. The contours for development of the remaining NWs would be determined on completion of feasibility studies/ DPRs.
