| Traffic & Logistics |
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The Traffic & Logistics Wing of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) plays a pivotal role in planning, promoting, regulating and facilitating cargo and passenger movement across National Waterways, covering the commercial, strategic, analytical, regulatory and operational dimensions of inland water transport (IWT). The wing is responsible for aggregating and managing traffic data, conducting traffic and modal-shift studies, promoting cargo and cruise movement, developing standard operating procedures and protocols, and supporting agreements and memoranda of understanding to enable seamless movement of freight and passengers. By optimising traffic flow, enhancing cargo volumes and integrating IWT with road, rail and coastal shipping systems, the wing works to position inland waterways as a reliable, economical and environmentally sustainable logistics mode.
| Key Functions of the Department |
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The following table summarises the principal responsibilities of the Traffic & Logistics Wing:
| Function Category | Description |
| Traffic Analysis, Studies & Modal Shift Planning | Analyse cargo and cruise movement patterns, national waterway traffic dynamics, and undertake sectoral studies to support modal shift of freight to IWT, identify logistics improvement opportunities, and inform policy and infrastructure planning. |
| Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBP) for Transit & Trade | Develop protocols and standard operating procedures for inland waterway transit, trade and vessel operations. |
| Stakeholder Engagement & Public-Private Partnerships | Through agreements and MoUs, the wing collaborates with key stakeholders to expand cargo services, introduce new vessel operations, modernise logistics infrastructure, and promote Inland Water Transport (IWT). |
| Cruise & Passenger Services Promotion | Support the development and regulation of river cruise services, passenger ferry operations and related tourism initiatives. |
| Agreements, MoUs and Standard Operating Frameworks | The wing facilitates interstate, bilateral and industry agreements and issues standard operating procedures to enable safe, efficient and predictable cargo and cruise movement on inland waterways. |
| Regional Waterways Grid (RWG) | An initiative, to create an integrated network of inland waterways and connect them with international routes (like the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Routes) to boost economic activity, trade (especially in the Northeast), and multi-modal transport across South Asia, linking countries like India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan for efficient movement of goods, reducing reliance on road transport. |
| Data Management & Reporting through Digital Platform | Cargo Data Portal (CAR-D) is a web-based portal for collection & compilation, analysis and dissemination of all the cargo and cruise movement data for IWAI and its stakeholders. Portal gives access of the data to general public showcasing IWAI capabilities and potential of inland waterways transport. |
| Cargo and Cruise Operations |
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Cargo Movement Highlights:
• Cargo traffic on National Waterways reached a record of 145.84 million metric tonnes in FY 2024–25, reflecting a strong growth trajectory and expanded modal use of waterways.
• Commodities such as coal, iron ore, iron ore fines, sand and fly ash accounted for a majority share of cargo carried on waterways during this period.
• The number of operational National Waterways increased to 32 as of 2025-2026, enhancing network reach and logistics connectivity across regions.
Cruise & Passenger Movement:
• The Traffic & Logistics Wing tracks river cruise activity and passenger movements across major waterways, supporting sustainable growth of river tourism and scheduled passenger services. Cruise traffic data is consolidated through digital systems like the CAR-D Portal to inform planning and service improvements.
River Cruise Tourism
• India’s river cruise tourism sector is experiencing rapid growth, with cruise voyages on National Waterways increasing by 19.4% from 371 in 2023–24 to 443 in 2024–25, and operations expanding from just five vessels on three waterways in 2013–14 to 28 vessels across 13 waterways in 2024–25.
• Flagship initiatives such as the MV Ganga Vilas, new cruise circuits on the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Sundarbans and Kerala backwaters, and the planned entry of global players like Viking Cruises with Viking Brahmaputra reflect rising global confidence in India’s inland waterways.
• Under the Cruise Bharat Mission, IWAI plans to develop 51 new cruise circuits by 2027, upgrade terminals, promote green vessels, and increase river cruise passengers from 0.5 million to 1.5 million, positioning river cruises as a key pillar of sustainable tourism and employment generation in India.
| Cargo Promotion Scheme- Jalvahak |
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A scheme to incentivize cargo owners for utilization of Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) on NW-1, NW-2 and NW-16 via IBP Route.
The inland water transport sector is at nascent stage in India and hence requires specific focus, encouragement and investment to give it the necessary developmental impetus with a view to resolving congestion on road and help achieving the MAKV’s target of 5% modal shift to IWT as well as cargo movement of 500 MMT.
Keeping the targets in view, a draft comprehensive scheme is being formulated in the light of efforts made globally to promote modal shift of cargo to waterways. As such, the proposed draft scheme has been based on European Union Marco Polo Programme to incentivize modal shift of the freight from road. Under this programme, financial assistance was offered upto 35% of the expenditure incurred. The highlights of the proposed scheme are as under.
Objective
• Provide impetus to modal shift of cargo to IWT mode by incentivizing such shift and
• Demonstrate the reliability as well as readiness of the IWT sector for the purpose of boosting confidence of the stakeholders
Scheme components
• Component 1: Provide financial incentives directly to the cargo owners (except for the cargo operated under ICSL) for sustainable modal-shift of cargo from Rail/ Road to IWT mode. Such financial incentive shall be to the extent of 35%of the total actual operating expenditure incurred on waterways journey. This Scheme component is expected to incentivize modal shift of 786.05 Mn Tonne-Km to waterways over a three years period (i.e. 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27)
• Component 2: Launch of Scheduled Services by ICSL for promotion of IWT, by providing funds to ICSL for the IWT vessel operated by ICSL.
Launch of Scheduled Services by ICSL for promotion of IWT, by providing funds to ICSL for the IWT vessel operated by ICSL
Funding
The total estimated cost of the Scheme is Rs 95.42 cr, which will be funded through GBS. Break up is as under :-
• Scheme Component 1: INR 41.45 Crores
• Scheme Component 2: INR 37.41 Crores
• Management and other expenses [@ 10% of (i) & (ii)]: 7.89 Crores
• Contingency @ 10%: Rs 8.67 Crores
• Total: Rs 95.42 Crores
Implementation
The Scheme launched on 15.12.2024 by Hon’ble MoPSW. A Joint Committee with representatives from Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), IWAI and SCI/ ICSL will be formed for the purpose of evaluation & selection of proposals for providing incentives under the Scheme and overall monitoring of the Scheme. Inland and Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL) will be the implementing agency for this Scheme.
Period
The period of the Scheme is three years. At the end of each financial year, a performance of the Scheme will be reviewed by the Joint Committee, based on which the Committee may consider and propose modifications, if any, to the Scheme and decide its continuation over subsequent years.
Apply for scheme
| Urban Water Transport |
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The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has taken a significant decision to undertake feasibility studies for developing Urban Water Transport Systems (UWTS) in select Indian cities by exploring the Water Metro model, either fully or partially, in 18 cities in 9 States & 3 UTs. Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has been appointed to carry out these studies.
The identified cities include Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir), Tezpur (Assam), Surat (Gujarat), Ayodhya (UP), Guwahati (Assam), Dibrugarh (Assam), Prayagraj (UP), Kolkata (West Bengal), Andaman & Nicobar, Varanasi (UP), Goa, Lakshadweep, Gandhinagar (Gujarat), Mangalore (Karnataka), Alleppey (Kerala), Patna (Bihar), Kollam (Kerala), Cuttack (Odisha), where inter-island ferry services can significantly improve connectivity.
| Documents |
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