Re-Booting Inland Waterways Transport in India

In March 2016, the National Waterways Act was passed by the upper house of the Parliament, increasing the number of national waterways across the country from the earlier 6 to 111.

In the last three years despite seeing numerous inaugurations, photo opportunities by politicians, things haven’t changed much in regard to Inland water transportation, both for the passenger or the cargo segment. And even where new vessels have been pressed into action, factors like bureaucratic tussles rendered their services in a complete fiasco as in the case of RoRo Ferries in Kerala or poor design and construction as in the case of RoRo ferries in Assam. In another case, small electrical boats in Varanasi have been returned within months, due to lack of charging facilities.

The overambitious plan for the revival and modernization of the Indian Waterways has been flawed from day one and has overlooked or ignored almost all…