India to invest over Rs 50,000 crore to enhance inland waterways infrastructure

The Inland Waterways Development Council has announced a series of initiatives and investments aimed at strengthening the national waterways infrastructure in the country. The second meeting of IWDC, organised by the Inland Waterways Authority of India under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, announced an investment plan of over Rs 50,000 crores over the next five years. Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal emphasised the importance of revitalising the inland waterways sector, saying, “IWDC has anchored a new vista for cooperative federalism as both the governments at Union and the states discussed, deliberated, debated and dwelled on multiple aspects for strengthening of inland waterways.” “Historically, the role of inland waterways has been paramount for civilisations. Under the dynamic leadership of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are attempting at rejuvenating the support system of inland waterways so that we decongest railways and roadways and at the same time, provide a viable, economic, sustainable and efficient mode of transportation for both passengers and cargo operators,” Sonowal added The meeting also witnessed the unveiling of several initiatives worth over Rs 1,400 crores across 21 inland waterway states.