| NATIONAL WATERWAY (NW-4) |
|---|
National Waterway 4 (NW 4) was officially declared in November 2008 and initially comprised the Kakinada–Puducherry canal stretches integrated with the Godavari and Krishna rivers, covering approximately 1,078 kilometres of navigable waterways in southern India.
The waterway combines canal sections—including the Kakinada, Eluru, Commamur, North and South Buckingham Canals—and river sections of the Godavari (Bhadrachalam to Rajahmundry) and Krishna (Wazirabad to Vijayawada).
It was initially declared a National Waterway on 24 November 2008 for a total length of 1078 Kms with the following limits.
| Lengths of Individual Stretches (NW-4) |
| Stretch / Section | Length (km) |
| Kakinada Canal | 50 |
| Eluru Canal | 139 |
| Krishna River (Prakasam Barrage–Wazirabad) | 157 |
| Godavari River (Rajahmundry–Bhadrachalam) | 171 |
| Commamuru Canal | 113 |
| North Buckingham Canal | 316 |
| South Buckingham Canal | 110 |
| Marakkanam–Puducherry Section | 22 |
| Total (Original) | 1,078 |
With the National Waterways Act, 2016, NW 4 was significantly extended to cover longer reaches of the rivers, increasing its total declared length to 2,890 km. The Krishna River stretch was extended from Wazirabad to Galagali (Karnataka), adding 636.20 km, and the Godavari River stretch was extended from Bhadrachalam to Nashik (Maharashtra), adding 1,201.60 km. These extensions expanded NW 4’s reach to include Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, connecting more communities and industrial hubs.
| Extended Reach | Additional Length (km) | New Coverage |
| Krishna River (Wazirabad to Galagali) | 636.2 | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka |
| Godavari River (Bhadrachalam to Nashik) | 1,201.60 | Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Maharashtra |
| Revised Total Consented Length | 2,890 | Multiple states & UT of Puducherry |
The waterway is strategically linked to major seaports including Adani Krishnapatnam Port, Kakinada Port, and Ennore Port, providing a cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative for cargo transport. IWAI is developing NW 4 in phased stages, with Phase I focusing on the Muktyala to Vijayawada stretch of the Krishna River, followed by integration of river and canal sections to ensure seamless navigation and efficient cargo movement.
NW 4 has been classified into navigational categories to suit different vessel capacities:
| Class | Vessel Type & Capacity |
| Class‑III | Self-propelled vessels up to 500 tonnes DWT, or one tug with two barges up to 1,000 tonnes DWT |
| Class‑I | Self-propelled vessels up to 100 tonnes DWT, or one tug with two barges up to 200 tonnes DWT |
By connecting interior regions with ports and industrial centers, NW 4 promotes regional development, trade efficiency, and sustainable transport, reinforcing its role as a citizen focused infrastructure that benefits both commerce and communities.