Government Identifies 19 New National Waterways to Boost Cruise Tourism and Inland Water Transport
Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, a total of 111 inland waterways have been declared as National Waterways. Of these, 32 waterways are currently operational for cargo and passenger movement.
The newly identified waterways will be developed in phases between FY27 and FY31 across Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Goa, Odisha, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. They include rivers such as the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Kabini, Sharavati, Kali, Subarnarekha, Chapora, Sutlej and Gandak, among others.
The government said its priority remains the development of already declared and commercially feasible National Waterways for cargo and passenger transport before notifying additional waterways. The new projects are aimed at expanding inland water transport, strengthening regional connectivity and promoting tourism through river cruise and ferry services.
Published on:
12 August 2026
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