Centre Circulates Draft National Water Metro Policy for Inter-Ministerial Consultation Ahead of National Rollout in 18 Cities

• Draft National Water Metro Policy, 2026 is a Centre-led framework to formalise urban water transport (Water Metro) as a national mode of mass transit, modelled on the Kochi Water Metro.
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), headed by Sarbananda Sonowal; targets rollout across 18 cities in phases.
• Relevant for GS-III (Infrastructure, Urban Transport), GS-II (Centre-State consultation, urban governance) and GS-I (Urbanisation).