IWDC 3.0 to chart the next phase of growth for India’s inland waterways

The third meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) will be held on January 23, 2026 in Kochi, Kerala, with the objective of highlighting the achievements of the Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector and outlining its future vision.

The day-long session will be chaired by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mr Sarbananda Sonowal, and will be attended by Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mr Shantanu Thakur, along with ministers from various state governments.

During the meeting, Mr Sonowal will launch new initiatives to further develop inland water transport in various states. Several State Support Agreements are also expected to be signed, strengthening Centre-State collaboration for IWT projects.

The IWDC 3.0 agenda includes sessions on building a resilient urban water transport system, enhancing the efficiency of cargo transport, promoting green vessels for passenger transport, advancing river cruise tourism, and implementing digital and sustainable practices. The meeting will also review the regulatory framework for inland waterways and address concerns raised by states related to ongoing and proposed inland water transport projects.

India boasts an extensive network of inland waterways, with over 145 million tonnes of cargo moved annually, offering a fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly mode of transport. Inland waterways complement the overburdened rail and road networks and facilitate initiatives such as Roll-on-Roll-off (RoRo) vehicle transport and river cruise tourism. Of the total 111 National Waterways across 23 states and four union territories, 32 are currently operational for cargo and passenger movement. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, is primarily responsible for development, maintenance and regulation of these waterways.

Cargo movement on National Waterways has increased from 18 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 145.84 million tonnes in 2024-25, while passenger traffic has grown to 7.64 crore in 2024-25. This momentum has been further accelerated through transformative initiatives such as the ‘Jalvahak’ Cargo Promotion Scheme, incentivising shippers to shift cargo from road and rail to waterways, and ‘Jal Samriddhi’, which promotes strong private sector participation in terminal development and operations.

“In Kochi, we aim to consolidate the progress made since IWDC 1.0 in 2024 and IWDC 2.0 in 2025, accelerate project execution, and scale green, technology-driven inland waterways in close partnership with states,” said Mr Sunil Paliwal, Chairman of IWAI.

The upcoming IWDC 3.0 meeting in Kochi is expected to serve as a dynamic forum to evaluate the potential and advantages of the inland water transport sector and to chart a clear roadmap for its future growth and expansion, said an official release.

Please visit our youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@ikargos2719 for fortnightly logistics news analysis and more!