Govt unveils 'Jalvahak' scheme to bolster long-haul cargo movement via inland waterways
Kolkata: The government on Sunday launched the ‘Jalvahak’ policy to promote long-haul cargo movement via inland waterways across the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Barak rivers. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal unveiled the policy in Kolkata, where he flagged off cargo ships, including MV AAI, MV Homi Bhaba, and MV Trishul.
The scheme, a joint initiative by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Inland & Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL), aims to reduce logistics costs, decongest roads and railways, and provide a sustainable transport solution.
This is the beginning of the Fixed Day Scheduled Sailing Service, which will operate between Kolkata, Patna, Varanasi, and Guwahati.
As Sonowal said, “This marks the outcome of government’s concerted effort to realise the tremendous potential of our rich network of inland waterways,” adding that the government aims to make cargo transport via waterways "economical, ecologically sound and efficient" while decongesting road and rail networks.
The Jalvahak scheme offers incentives for cargo owners to transport goods over 300 km by waterways, with reimbursements of up to 35% of operating expenses on national waterways (NW1, NW2, and NW16).
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The first vessels are transporting cement, gypsum, and coal along these routes, marking the beginning of regular, eco-friendly cargo transport on India's national waterways.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted the government’s efforts to rejuvenate India's waterways, stating, “Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, we aim for a modal shift of 800 million tonne kms with Rs 95.4 crores in investment by 2027.”
He added that cargo transported via national waterways has increased by over 700% from 18.07 million MT in 2013-14 to 132.89 million MT in 2023-24, with a target of 200 million MT by 2030 and 500 million MT by 2047, contributing to the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Shantanu Thakur, Union Minister of State, described the initiative as a "historic moment for the revival of waterways transport, especially in Bengal," while Daya Shankar Singh, Minister of State for Transportation, praised it as "a new era of economic transformation."
India’s vast inland waterways network spans 20,236 km, but freight transport remains under-utilised compared to other global powers. With targeted development, these waterways are set to become a key component of India's logistics and economic growth.
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