The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: DD News
Subject: Economy
Context: The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) signed MoUs worth ₹3,000 crore during India Maritime Week 2025 to boost cargo transport, water-based urban mobility, and river tourism in the Northeast.
About The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI):
• What it is? IWAI is a statutory authority under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985, responsible for the development, regulation, and maintenance of inland waterways for navigation and shipping.
• IWAI is a statutory authority under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985, responsible for the development, regulation, and maintenance of inland waterways for navigation and shipping.
• Headquarters: Noida (Uttar Pradesh), with regional offices in Patna, Kolkata, Guwahati, Varanasi, Bhubaneswar, and Kochi.
• History: Established on 27 October 1986 to operationalise National Waterways and develop India’s inland water transport (IWT) as a fuel-efficient, cost-effective logistics system.
• Established on 27 October 1986 to operationalise National Waterways and develop India’s inland water transport (IWT) as a fuel-efficient, cost-effective logistics system.
• Key Functions: Developing National Waterways (NW-1 Ganga, NW-2 Brahmaputra, NW-16 Barak, etc.). Fairway development (dredging, channel marking, river training works). Navigation infrastructure: terminals, jetties, Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax services, night navigation systems. Regulation: vessel movement, pilotage, and coordination with state IWT departments.
• Developing National Waterways (NW-1 Ganga, NW-2 Brahmaputra, NW-16 Barak, etc.).
• Fairway development (dredging, channel marking, river training works).
• Navigation infrastructure: terminals, jetties, Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax services, night navigation systems.
• Regulation: vessel movement, pilotage, and coordination with state IWT departments.
About Waterways in the Northeast:
• What it is? A network of major rivers—Brahmaputra, Barak, Subansiri, Lohit, Siang, Tlawng, Chhimtuipui, Imphal, Gumti—identified for inland water transport under the National Waterways Act.
• A network of major rivers—Brahmaputra, Barak, Subansiri, Lohit, Siang, Tlawng, Chhimtuipui, Imphal, Gumti—identified for inland water transport under the National Waterways Act.
• Identified Routes:
• National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra): Dhubri–Sadiya, main artery for Assam’s cargo and passenger movement. National Waterway-16 (Barak River): Lakhipur–Bhanga—key route for Manipur, Mizoram, and southern Assam. Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) Routes: Link the Northeast with Bangladesh ports, enabling trade access to Southeast Asia. Proposed/Developing Routes: Siang (Arunachal Pradesh), Gumti (Tripura), Doyang & Shilloi Lakes (Nagaland), Tlawng & Chhimtuipui (Mizoram), Umiam & Umngot (Meghalaya).
• National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra): Dhubri–Sadiya, main artery for Assam’s cargo and passenger movement.
• National Waterway-16 (Barak River): Lakhipur–Bhanga—key route for Manipur, Mizoram, and southern Assam.
• Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) Routes: Link the Northeast with Bangladesh ports, enabling trade access to Southeast Asia.
• Proposed/Developing Routes: Siang (Arunachal Pradesh), Gumti (Tripura), Doyang & Shilloi Lakes (Nagaland), Tlawng & Chhimtuipui (Mizoram), Umiam & Umngot (Meghalaya).