India to Invest Over ₹3,000 Crore in NW2, NW16, and IBPR Development by 2030: Sonowal.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced recently that over ₹3,000 crore will be invested by 2030 for the development of National Waterways 2 (NW2), National Waterways 16 (NW16), and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR).
The announcement was made at the second Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) meeting, held in Assam’s Kaziranga. Organized by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), the meeting focused on advancing infrastructure and policies for inland waterways.
Sonowal emphasized the government's commitment to reviving inland waterways as an economic and sustainable transportation mode for cargo and passengers. “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we aim to decongest railways and roadways while providing a viable, economic, and efficient mode of transport,” he said.
Key announcements at the IWDC meeting included a plan to invest more than ₹50,000 crore over the next five years in inland waterways across 21 states. Among these, new initiatives worth over ₹1,400 crore were unveiled, focusing on infrastructure development.
The government also plans to launch 1,000 green vessels as part of its efforts to address challenges and unlock economic opportunities through sustainable inland waterway transport.
Major projects to enhance Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) were discussed, including developing shipbuilding and repair facilities across all national waterways. These upgrades aim to reduce logistics costs, boost ancillary industries, and create employment opportunities for riparian communities, Sonowal added.
The IWDC meeting reinforced cooperative federalism, with Union and state governments collaborating to strengthen inland waterways as a cornerstone of India’s economic growth and sustainable transport strategy.
HBL