Water Metro, Shipyard & 16 Jetties Announced in Bihar: Sarbananda Sonowal

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has announced a major infrastructure push to boost inland waterways in Bihar. Speaking in Patna, he revealed that the city is being considered for the introduction of a Water Metro—modeled on the successful Kochi Water Metro—to connect both banks of the Ganga with a clean, efficient, and modern urban mobility system.

He also announced the setting up of a ship repair facility in Patna that will support maintenance as well as the construction of new vessels, strengthening the inland water transport ecosystem. A Joint Task Force comprising the Bihar Government, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and IWAI will be formed to explore sustainable development opportunities along River Ganga (National Waterway-1).

The National Inland Navigation Institute (NINI) in Patna will be upgraded as a Centre of Excellence with new investments in infrastructure and training. To enhance passenger movement on NW-1, the government will add 16 new community jetties to the existing 21, enabling farmers, traders, and small businesses direct access to river-based markets.

Patna is being developed as a logistics hub for Northern Bihar, and the Kalughat Terminal will support Nepal-bound trade, integrated with road and rail networks. Two Ro-Pax terminals, four Quick Pontoon Opening Mechanisms (QPOM), and two hybrid electric catamaran vessels will ensure clean and affordable passenger journeys.

Highlighting inland waterways development since 2014, Shri Sonowal said cargo movement has surged over 700%, operational waterways have expanded ninefold, and investments have increased over 500%. River cruise routes have grown 333%, highlighting the sector's tourism potential.

The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP), launched in 2018 with a ₹5,061 crore investment, is 68.86% complete as of May 2025. It has increased cargo traffic by 220%, with movement rising from 5.05 MMT in 2014–15 to 16.38 MMT in 2024–25. The project spans 1,390 km from Haldia to Varanasi and includes terminals, fairway maintenance, and navigation locks to ease vessel movement.

India now has 29 operational National Waterways across 11 states, up from just 3 in 2014. Of the 111 declared National Waterways, a total navigable length of 20,187 km spans 23 States and 4 UTs. The current infrastructure includes 124 terminals (27 permanent and 97 floating), and cargo movement reached 145.84 million tonnes in FY 2024–25.

IWAI is conducting 10,000 km of monthly longitudinal surveys to assess water depth, expanding its reach from 11 states in FY24 to 22 states and 4 UTs by FY27. A ₹35,000 crore project pipeline—including PPP initiatives—has been prepared for the next five years. The Union Budget for the sector has also increased by 48%, from ₹1,203 crore in FY24 to ₹1,752 crore in FY25, reflecting the Modi government’s commitment to developing a cleaner, greener, and more connected inland waterways network.