Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has said that an investment of Rs 50,000 crore will be made to boost infrastructure along national waterways in the next five years. He said the investment proposals were announced in Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) meeting at Kohora in Kaziranga.
The minister said 1,000 green vessels will be launched in the next five years to boost green shipping inland waterways. After the success of Kochi's Water Metro project, it will be expanded to 15 cities of the country, including Guwahati, Sonowal added. He also said ship repair facilities will be established at more national waterways soon. According to him, more than Rs 23,000 crore has been earmarked for New National Waterways Development and Green Shipping initiatives.
IWDC was organised by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency for development of waterways under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW). IWDC, which was set up in 2023, is an exercise to derive the maximum economic potential out of the inland water bodies. It requires exceptionally coordinated centre-state relationship, collaborations and cooperation in the spirit of cooperative federalism.
