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Sonowal Unveils Big Push for Inland Waterways Growth in Bihar

2025-06-17

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, has announced a major infrastructure boost aimed at transforming inland water transport in Bihar. The announcement came during the inaugural session of the Consultative Workshop on Inland Waterways Development on National Waterway-1 (river Ganga)—the first of its kind—held in Patna.

The workshop, chaired by Shri Sonowal, was attended by several dignitaries, including Union Minister Shri Giriraj Singh, Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, State Ministers Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Sheela Kumari, Dayashankar Singh (Uttar Pradesh), and Manas Ranjan Bhunia (West Bengal), along with Members of Parliament Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad and Shri Sudama Prasad. Senior officials such as Bihar’s Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena, IWAI Chairman Vijay Kumar, and others were also present.

Speaking at the event, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal stated, “Today, at this Consultative Workshop, we reaffirm our collective effort to rejuvenate our rivers, especially the National Waterways, to become as engines of our future growth, not merely a relic of our past. Inland Water Transport (IWT) is the cleanest, most cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable mode of transport.”

He added, “I bow with reverence to the sacred river Ganga — the eternal source of life, civilisation, and spiritual energy in this land… we renew our resolve to align this sacred river with the nation’s modern journey of growth and transformation.”

Among the key announcements:

Water Metro for Patna: Inspired by the Kochi model, a Water Metro system is being considered to connect both banks of the river, offering modern and clean urban mobility.

Ship Repair & Construction Facility: A new facility will be set up in Patna to serve inland vessels and construct new ships, strengthening the inland waterway ecosystem.

Centre of Excellence at NINI: Patna-based National Inland Navigation Institute will be upgraded with new investment to serve as a Centre of Excellence in inland navigation.

Joint Task Force Formation: A Joint Task Force comprising the Bihar Government, Ministry of Ports, and IWAI will explore sustainable opportunities along the Ganga (NW-1) in Bihar.

To strengthen passenger movement:

“The Narendra Modi government is committed to transforming inland water transport into a reliable, efficient, and eco-friendly mode of transportation for the people of Bihar,” said the Minister. 16 new community jetties (in addition to 21 existing ones) will connect key districts and support farmers, traders, and local businesses. Patna will emerge as a logistics hub for northern Bihar, while Kalughat Terminal will facilitate Nepal-bound trade.

Deployment of Quick Pontoon Opening Mechanisms (QPOMs) at four locations, two Ro-Pax terminals, and two hybrid electric catamarans to provide green and affordable travel.

“These announcements are not just policy statements. They are a declaration of our intent — that Bihar, blessed by Ganga, will become a leading hub for inland water-based commerce, tourism, and innovation. With these infrastructure, Patna will emerge as the Water Transport Hub on river Ganga (NW 1).”

Reflecting on the progress since 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Shri Sonowal noted:

“Inland waterways have undergone a remarkable transformation under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Cargo movement has grown by over 700%, with operational waterways increasing nearly ninefold (over 800%) and investments rising fivefold (510%) since 2014...”

He also highlighted a 333% growth in river cruise routes since 2013, underlining the growing tourism potential.

The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP), approved in January 2018 with an investment of ₹5,061.15 crore, aims to enhance National Waterway-1 (Haldia to Varanasi) over 1,390 km. As of May 2025, 68.86% of the project is complete. Cargo traffic on NW-1 has increased from 5.05 MMT in 2014–15 to 16.38 MMT in 2024–25, an impressive 220% rise. The project incorporates eco-friendly practices such as zero liquid discharge, bio-toilets, and dolphin-friendly sonar systems.