National Waterways are the waterways in India that are declared as National Waterways under the National Waterways Act, 2016. The act declared 111 waterways as National Waterways to promote the development of inland water transport in the country.
National Waterways have been identified based on their navigational potential, their usefulness for transportation of goods and passengers, and their potential for promoting tourism. These waterways have been classified into three categories based on their length and navigational facilities.
Category I: Waterways having a minimum width of 45 meters and a depth of 2.5 meters, suitable for plying of vessels with a capacity of at least 1500 tonnes.
Category II: Waterways having a minimum width of 30 meters and a depth of 1.5 meters, suitable for plying of vessels with a capacity of at least 500 tonnes.
Category III: Waterways having a minimum width of 20 meters and a depth of 1 meter, suitable for plying of vessels with a capacity of at least 50 tonnes.
The development of National Waterways in India has been given priority by the government of India to promote inland water transport as a cost-effective, environment-friendly, and energy-efficient mode of transportation. The development of National Waterways is being undertaken by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), which is responsible for the development, maintenance, and regulation of inland waterways in the country.
The development of National Waterways includes dredging of channels, construction of terminals and jetties, installation of navigational aids, and strengthening of river banks to prevent erosion. The development of National Waterways is expected to boost the transportation of goods and passengers, create employment opportunities, and promote tourism in the country.
Currently, several National Waterways, such as the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system (NW-1), Brahmaputra river (NW-2), and the West Coast Canal (NW-3), have been operationalised for commercial navigation. The development of other National Waterways is also underway, and it is expected to enhance the efficiency and capacity of inland water transport in the country.
