Inland waterways are often touted to be the cheapest and most environmentally friendly modes of transportation. 

It is estimated that an inland vessel (of 2000 tonnes capacity) replaces about 125 trucks on the road. In addition, IWT is said to be 50% of road’s operating cost and 80% of rail’s operating cost.

The GoI has over the years initiated a slew of measures to promote IWT such as declaring 111 NWs (National Waterways), jal marg vikas Pariyojna, sagarmala programme and other policy measures.

IWT in Andhra Pradesh

Out of the 111 NWs, three national waterways have been identified in Andhra Pradesh. The state government is thus actively working on ways to make inland waterways a significant mode of transportation.

To begin with a separate act has been promulgated (May-23) and an exclusive authority i.e. APIWA has been constituted. In the 1st phase 8 projects have been identified. 

These projects include introducing Ro-Ro services, developing cruise services, water bound tourism, and developing state waterways for port connectivity. 

‘The GoAP aims to double its IWT share to 18MTPA from the current 8 MTPA’ informed Mr SVK Reddy, CEO, AP Inland waterways Authority, GoAP speaking to Vizag Industrial Scan.

Currently the state handles about 8 MTPA of cargo through IWT which is primarily used for transporting sand. ‘Going forward we foresee huge potential for transporting cement, lime stone, iron ore etc. once the 18MTPA comes into play’ noted Mr Reddy. 

And to make this a reality the government is currently working on operationalising two waterways i.e. NW 4 and NW 79.

In the NW-4 Phase-1 development is of the stretch Muktiyala to Vijyawada and also Kakinada canal, Eluru canal, Buckingham canal and others. 

The NW-79 involves work on the river Penna. Similarly feasibility studies have been proposed for river nagavali, river sabari, river kunderu, river cheyyeru, river papagni.