20 January 2026·PIB

IWDC 3.0 to Chart the Next Phase of Growth for India’s Inland Waterways

In this note

1. At a Glance

IWDC is the apex Centre–State policy body chaired by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) to accelerate development of Inland Water Transport (IWT) [1][2].
IWDC 3.0 was held on 23 January 2026 at Kochi, Kerala, chaired by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, and approved projects worth over ₹1,500 crore [1][2].
Relevance: cross-cuts GS-III (infrastructure, logistics, environment), GS-II (cooperative federalism) and Maritime India Vision 2047.

3rd meeting of IWDC convened at Kochi on 23 Jan 2026 to chart the next phase of IWT growth and Centre–State coordination [1].
Approved >₹1,500 crore projects for green mobility, multimodal logistics, river tourism; proposed extension of Jalvahak scheme to Kerala waterways [2].

IWDC constituted: 12 October 2023 by MoPSW as the apex deliberative forum with States/UTs [3].
IWDC 1.0: 8 January 2024, Kolkata — committed ₹45,000 crore for river cruise tourism corridors [4].
IWDC 2.0: 10 January 2025 — projects worth ~₹1,400 crore launched/announced; ₹50,000 crore five-year infra commitment articulated [5].
IWDC 3.0: 23 January 2026, Kochi — ₹1,500+ crore project basket [1][2].
Statutory parent: Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the IWAI Act, 1985; National Waterways governed by the National Waterways Act, 2016 (declared 111 NWs).

Implementing ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) [1].
Statutory body: IWAI (set up 1986 under IWAI Act, 1985).
Chair: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal; MoS: Shantanu Thakur [1].
National Waterways: 111 declared under National Waterways Act, 2016; target of 47 operational NWs by 2027; cargo volume target 156 MTPA by 2026 [6].
Jalvahak Scheme: launched 15 December 2024; cargo-promotion incentive on NW-1 (Ganga), NW-2 (Brahmaputra), NW-16 (Barak) and Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route [2].
IWDC 3.0 sub-projects (~₹900 crore): slipway at Kochi; 110 jetties — 25 in Odisha and 85 in the Northeast; National River Traffic & Navigation System (NRTNS) in Maharashtra [2].

Economic / Logistics

IWT cost ~₹1.06/tonne-km vs ~₹2.50 (road) and ~₹1.36 (rail); IWDC channels investment to scale modal share [5].
₹50,000 crore five-year capex envelope committed at IWDC 2.0 backstops the 3.0 project pipeline [5].

Environmental

IWT is fuel-efficient and lower-emission; IWDC 3.0 explicitly frames the push as "green mobility" and a green transport shift on the Brahmaputra [1][2].

Administrative / Federalism

IWDC functions as a Centre–State coordination platform; State Support Agreements signed at each edition operationalise cooperative federalism in IWT [1][2].
States such as Kerala, Odisha, Maharashtra, Assam and NE states are direct beneficiaries of the 3.0 project basket [2].

Strategic / Connectivity

IBP route with Bangladesh links NW-1 and NW-2, enabling NE access via Chittagong/Mongla and reducing Siliguri Corridor dependence [2].

Scientific / Technological

NRTNS (River AIS-equivalent) deployment in Maharashtra under IWDC 3.0 brings digital vessel-traffic management to inland fleet [2].

15 Dec 2024: Jalvahak cargo-promotion scheme launched [2].
10 Jan 2025: IWDC 2.0 — ₹1,400 crore projects; ₹50,000 crore 5-year vision [5].
2025: National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025 notified, opening private participation [7].
23 Jan 2026: IWDC 3.0 at Kochi; ₹1,500+ crore approvals; Jalvahak proposed for Kerala [1][2].

IWDC was constituted on 12 October 2023 [3].
IWDC 1.0 venue: Kolkata (8 Jan 2024); IWDC 2.0: 10 Jan 2025; IWDC 3.0: Kochi, 23 Jan 2026 [1][4][5].
IWDC is chaired by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, not by PM or NITI Aayog [1].
IWAI is the statutory body; parent Act: IWAI Act, 1985 (in force 1986).
National Waterways are declared under the National Waterways Act, 2016 — total 111 NWs.
Jalvahak scheme launched 15 Dec 2024; covers NW-1, NW-2, NW-16 + IBP route [2].
NW-1 = Ganga–Bhagirathi–Hooghly; NW-2 = Brahmaputra; NW-16 = Barak.
IWDC 3.0 approved projects worth over ₹1,500 crore [2].
110 jetties under 3.0: 25 Odisha + 85 Northeast [2].
NRTNS (National River Traffic and Navigation System) being implemented in Maharashtra [2].
Target: 47 NWs operational by 2027; cargo target 156 MTPA by 2026 [6].
IWDC 1.0 commitment: ₹45,000 crore for river cruise tourism [4].
Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route connects NW-1 and NW-2 through Bangladesh [2].

GS-III — Infrastructure: "Discuss how the IWDC framework, coupled with the Jalvahak scheme, can shift India's modal mix toward inland waterways." (250 words)
GS-II — Cooperative Federalism: "Examine the role of Centre–State Support Agreements under the IWDC in operationalising cooperative federalism in the transport sector."
GS-III — Environment & Logistics: "Inland water transport is the missing link in India's green logistics transition. Analyse with reference to recent policy measures."

National Waterways Act, 2016 — statutory basis for 111 NWs.
Sagarmala Programme — sister port-led development scheme under MoPSW.
Maritime India Vision 2047 / Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 — overarching strategy [3].
PM Gati Shakti & National Logistics Policy 2022 — multimodal integration.
Indo-Bangladesh Protocol on Inland Water Transit & Trade — bilateral leverage.
Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) / Arth Ganga — NW-1 capacity augmentation with World Bank assistance.
Cruise Bharat Mission — river/ocean cruise tourism vertical.
IWAI — institutional architecture.

IWDC is under MoPSW, not Ministry of Jal Shakti or NITI Aayog.
IWAI is governed by the IWAI Act, 1985 — not the National Waterways Act, 2016 (which only declares NWs).
Jalvahak is a cargo-shift incentive scheme, not a vessel-building subsidy or a cruise programme.
NW-2 is the Brahmaputra, not the Barak (NW-16); NW-3 is the West Coast Canal in Kerala.
IWDC 1.0 was in Kolkata, IWDC 3.0 in Kochi — easy to swap.