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India's Waterways Hit Record Cargo, Passenger Traffic Surges 5x

India's national waterways achieved record cargo transportation of 145.84 million metric tonnes in FY25, while passenger traffic surged to 7.6 crore in 2024-25 from 1.61 crore the previous year. The government aims to expand operational waterways from 32 to 52 over the next five years, supported by the Union Budget 2026-27's Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme. Key initiatives include operationalising National Waterway-5 in Odisha and establishing ship repair ecosystems in Varanasi and Patna. The Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision targets increasing the inland water transport modal share from 2% to 5% and cargo volumes to over 500 MMT by 2047.

Key Points: India's Waterways Record 145.84 MMT Cargo, Passenger Traffic Jumps 5x

  • Cargo transport on national waterways hits record 145.84 MMT in FY25
  • Passenger traffic jumps to 7.6 crore from 1.61 crore year-on-year
  • 32 of 111 total waterways currently operational, target 52 in 5 years
  • Govt aims to raise inland water transport modal share from 2% to 5% by 2030
2 min read

India's national waterways support 145.84 MMT cargo transport in FY26; passenger traffic jumps nearly 6-fold

India's national waterways hit record cargo of 145.84 MMT in FY25, passenger traffic jumps nearly 6-fold. Govt plans 52 operational waterways in 5 years.

"The combined cargo handling capacity of major ports rose from 555 million metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) in FY14 to 1,681 MTPA in FY25 - Government Statement"

New Delhi, April 27

Cargo transportation in India through its National Waterways reached an all‑time high of 145.84 million metric tonnes in FY25, and passenger traffic jumped to 7.6 crore in 2024‑25 from 1.61 crore the year before, the government said on Monday.

India now has a network of 111 National Waterways totalling 20,187 km in length, with 32 waterways currently operational covering 5,155 km, an official statement said.

The number of operational waterways is projected to increase to 52 in the next 5 years, it said.

Cargo transportation on NWs reached 145.84 million metric tonnes in FY25, and 198 MMT (till February 2026) in FY26. The combined cargo handling capacity of major ports rose from 555 million metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) in FY14 to 1,681 MTPA in FY25.

Moreover, the turnaround time for container vessels declined substantially from 41.76 hours in 2013-14 to 28.5 hours in 2024-25.

Union Budget 2026-27 announced the operationalisation of 20 new National Waterways over the next five years and introduced a Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme to shift cargo from road and rail to water transport.

The policy push aims to increase the combined share of inland waterways and coastal shipping from 6 per cent to 12 per cent by 2047.

In line with this vision, the government will operationalise National Waterway-5 in Odisha to connect the mineral-rich regions of Talcher and Angul with industrial centres such as Kalinga Nagar and with the ports of Paradip and Dhamra.

Training institutes will be established as Regional Centres of Excellence along the NW-5 stretch to develop skilled manpower and benefit local youth.

Further, a dedicated ship repair ecosystem for inland waterways will be set up in Varanasi and Patna. As per Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision, India plans to raise the Inland Water Transport modal share from 2 per cent to 5 per cent and expand cargo volumes to more than 200 MMT by 2030 and 500 MMT by 2047.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

V
Vikram M
The planned expansion to 52 operational waterways and the focus on NW-5 in Odisha connecting mineral-rich Talcher with Paradip is a game-changer. But I hope the government also prioritizes regular dredging and proper maintenance. Many existing waterways are shallow during dry seasons.
S
Sarah B
Impressive numbers! The turnaround time for container vessels dropping from 41.76 hours to 28.5 hours shows real efficiency gains. India's port capacity has more than tripled since 2014. As someone in logistics, I can say this will make Indian exports more competitive globally.
P
Priya S
The passenger traffic jump is 5x? That's incredible! I hope they improve safety standards and amenities on these waterways though. My family used NW-1 once and the boats were fine but the terminals need better facilities. Still, good progress overall 💪
M
Michael C
Smart policy push to increase water transport share from 2% to 5% by 2030 and 12% by 2047. Germany and Netherlands move 40-50% of cargo via inland waterways – we have huge potential. The ship repair ecosystem in Varanasi and Patna will create local jobs too.
R
Rohit P
Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme sounds good but we must ensure this doesn't harm fishing communities or fragile river ecosystems. Also, connecting NW-5 to mineral-rich Angul is fine but what about equitable development for all states? Hope every region benefits. 🧐

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