India’s Inland Water Transport Sector Sees Record Cargo Movement in 2024-25

India’s inland water transport (IWT) sector achieved a significant milestone with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) reporting a record-breaking cargo movement of 145.5 million tonnes in the fiscal year 2024–25. This achievement highlights the success of sustained investments and policy initiatives aimed at enhancing the country’s inland waterways infrastructure. The number of operational national waterways increased from 24 to 29 during the same period, signifying a strategic push towards multimodal connectivity and sustainable transport solutions.

The cargo traffic on National Waterways has experienced a substantial increase from 18.10 million metric tonnes (MMT) to 145.5 MMT between FY-14 and FY-25, with a compound annual growth rate of 20.86%. In FY-25, there was a 9.34% year-on-year growth in traffic movement from FY-24, with five key commodities constituting over 68% of the total cargo moved on National Waterways during the year. Additionally, passenger movement has also seen growth, reaching 1.61 crore in 2023–24.

To support the growth of the IWT sector, various initiatives have been implemented, including the launch of digital tools such as the Least Available Depth Information System (LADIS) and the River Information System (RIS), among others. Green initiatives like Hybrid Electric Catamarans and Hydrogen Vessels are also being introduced to reduce pollution and promote river tourism. The government has set ambitious targets to increase the modal share of freight movement through IWT and increase traffic volume, aligning with the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. The ‘Jalvahak’ Scheme, launched in December 2024, aims to shift cargo from road and rail to waterways by providing financial incentives and scheduled services.

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