- By Akansha Pandey
- Wed, 10 Dec 2025 10:03 AM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
Preparations have commenced to revolutionise waterway-based transport and tourism in Uttar Pradesh. Following the first meeting of the Uttar Pradesh Inland Waterways Authority, held at the Hotel Renaissance in Lucknow on Tuesday, a comprehensive roadmap was discussed to address possibilities, challenges and solutions for the sector.
1. Network Overview And Development
Of India's 111 national waterways, new routes are being established on 11 rivers within Uttar Pradesh. The identified rivers include:
Ganga, Yamuna, Ghaghara, Saryu, Gandak, Assi, Betwa, Chambal, Gomti, Varuna and Karmanasha.
Current Operational Status:
Existing Route: Water transport is currently operational on the 1,620 km Ganga route stretching from Varanasi to Haldia (West Bengal).
Under Construction: A new 761 km route is currently being developed.
Active Works: Waterway infrastructure work is actively underway on the Ganga, Yamuna, Saryu, and Gandak rivers.
Sunil Paliwal, Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), highlighted the sector's rapid growth, noting that while only five waterways existed in the country prior to 2014, work has now been completed on 111. He emphasised the critical importance of NW-1 (Ganga Waterway) and the necessity for collaboration between central and state governments.
2. Multi-Modal Connectivity And Economic Impact
The initiative aims to integrate waterways with road and rail networks to create a multi-modal cargo network.
Cost Reduction: Rajnish Srivastava, Senior Divisional Railway Manager of Lucknow, noted that connecting these modes of transport will significantly reduce freight costs. This will make shipping goods from Varanasi to Kolkata cheaper and lower the logistical costs for factories in Kanpur-Unnao.
Infrastructure: TK Ramachandran, former Secretary and Chairman of the authority, cited successful dredging works in Assam and Bengal as examples to follow for maintaining adequate river depth.
3. Tourism Policy And Incentives
A major focus of the meeting was boosting domestic and foreign tourism through water connectivity.
Religious Circuits: Plans include expanding river cruises, houseboats, water taxis, and Ro-Pax services to connect religious cities such as Kashi (Varanasi), Prayagraj and Ayodhya.
Investment Incentives: Rajesh Kumar, Director General of Tourism, announced that investors establishing floating restaurants will receive a 25 per cent discount under the state tourism policy.
Lake Tourism: Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh suggested that beyond rivers, Suraha Tal (Ballia) and Ramgarh Tal (Gorakhpur) hold significant tourism potential and promoted the concept of floating hotels.
4. Regional Projects And Challenges
Specific regional proposals and constraints were discussed by Divisional Commissioners:
Lucknow (Gomti River): Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant proposed the operation of a Water Metro along the Gomti river due to the high population density on its banks. He also suggested connecting the pilgrimage site of Naimisharanya to this waterway.
Prayagraj (Ganga River): Divisional Commissioner Saumya Agarwal highlighted the cultural significance of the Prayagraj-to-Ballia route. However, she noted challenges regarding the route to Mirzapur, citing low water levels outside the August–October window and structural obstructions caused by several bridges.
5. Vision 2047: Future Outlook
The authority outlined a long-term vision targeting the year 2047.
The Goal: To facilitate the long-distance transport of heavy goods via waterways, thereby reducing logistics costs and easing congestion on road and rail networks.
Planned Infrastructure:
- Logistics hubs, warehouses, and cold storage facilities.
- Waterway terminals and inland ports along river banks.
6. Environmental Commitment
Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh reinforced that water transport serves as a superior alternative for a pollution-free environment. He urged experts and thinkers to take a personal interest in making the Ganga, Yamuna, and Ghaghara fully suitable for commercial freight and passenger transport.
Attendees: The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Archana Agarwal, Transport Commissioner Kinjal Singh and other senior departmental officials. An agenda for the next phase of development will be prepared based on the suggestions recorded during this session.
