New Delhi / Varanasi: The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has announced a major boost to Uttar Pradesh’s inland waterways network, signing multiple agreements worth over ₹6,000 crore during India Maritime Week 2025. The initiatives focus on strengthening connectivity along the Ganga (National Waterway-1), expanding cruise tourism, enhancing ship repair facilities, and promoting clean-energy river transport.
Key Investments and Agreements
- Cruise Tourism: Partnerships with Heritage River Journeys Pvt. Ltd. and Alaknanda Cruises will introduce new vessels and expand heritage tourism circuits in Varanasi, with investments exceeding ₹800 crore.
- Ship Repair Hub: A new ship repair facility in Varanasi will be developed at a cost of ₹350 crore, positioning the city as a regional maritime services hub.
- Cruise Terminals: Two modern river cruise terminals worth ₹200 crore will be built in Varanasi to improve passenger amenities and operational capacity.
- Green Mobility: A ₹100 crore project will establish electric vessel charging infrastructure, supporting India’s National Green Shipping Mission.
- Skill Development: A Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE) in Varanasi, with ₹200 crore investment, will focus on training, research, and innovation in inland water transport and green technologies.
- Cargo Transport: A landmark ₹1,000 crore MoU with Rhenus Logistics will induct modern tug-barges on the Ganga and Brahmaputra, boosting multimodal logistics efficiency.
- Dredging & Connectivity: Agreements worth ₹1,500 crore with IIT Madras (NTCPWC) and IPRCL will oversee dredging works and prepare rail connectivity plans for multimodal terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj, and Haldia.
Leaders’ Remarks
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal described the agreements as a transformative step, noting that inland waterways are becoming “engines of growth, tourism, and regional integration.” He emphasized that these initiatives align with the vision of making India a global maritime hub by 2047.
Minister of State Shantanu Thakur highlighted the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership in reviving inland waterways, calling the Ganga corridor a powerful driver of trade, tourism, and mobility.
MoPSW Secretary Vijay Kumar and IWAI Chairman Sunil Kumar Singh added that the combined agreements reinforce India’s maritime economy goals, while accelerating sustainable logistics and cruise tourism in Uttar Pradesh.
Strategic Role of Uttar Pradesh
With these developments, Uttar Pradesh is set to emerge as a central player in India’s inland waterway ecosystem. The expansion of NW-1 operations complements national programs such as Sagarmala, Maritime India Vision 2030 (MIV2030), and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 (MAKV2047), ensuring the state’s integration into India’s long-term maritime growth strategy
