IWT Wing is responsible for development, management, implementation of capacity building and institutional strengthening initiatives in the National Waterways (NWs). The Wing is headed by Senior Economic Advisor, who is supported by Director (IWT), two Under Secretaries and IWT Section.
India has an extensive network of inland waterways in the form of rivers, canals, backwaters and creeks. Freight transportation by waterways is highly underutilized in the country as compared to developed countries. India's hinterland connectivity is mainly based on road and rail with domestic waterways— both coastal shipping and inland waterways—playing a limited role. Waterways are found to be cost effective as well as an environmentally friendly means of transporting freight. In India, Inland Water Transport (IWT) has the potential to supplement the over-burdened railways and congested roadways. In addition to cargo movement, IWT sector also provide a convenient function in related activities such as carriage of vehicles {on Roll-on-Roll-off (Ro-Ro) mode of cross ferry} and tourism.
The National Waterways Act, 2016 has declared 111 inland waterways as ‘National Waterways’ (NWs) in the country to promote shipping and navigation on them. The total length of NWs is 20,275 km spread across 24 States in the country.
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), is an autonomous organization constituted on 27th October, 1986 under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985. IWAI is primarily responsible for development, maintenance and regulation of those waterways which have been declared as NWs under National Waterways Act, 2016. The head office of IWAI is at Noida, UP. The policy guidelines and directions issued by IWT Wing are implemented by IWAI.
Key Initiative of National Waterways
List of Investment-Ready Projects
| S. No. | Project Name | Sector | Status (Tender Done / Under Bidding) | Project Size | Type of Investment required |
| 1 | Renovation / Modernization of existing navigation lock at Jangipur | IWT | 1. Tender published on 06.01.2025 2. Pre-bid meeting held on 14.01.2025 3. Bid submission by 03.02.2025. Bid finalised 4. LoA expected to be issued by May 2025 |
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| 2 | Regional Waterway Grid | IWT | 1. Traffic Study – ongoing . 2. PMC: LOA by 30.04.2025 |
INR 6,612 Crores | |
| 3 | Development of NW-5 | IWT | INR 21,375 Crores | ||
| 4 | Development of tourist Jetties at Biswanath Ghat, Neamati Ghat, Silghat and Guijan | IWT | DPR work is in progress by IPRCL | INR 150 Crores | |
| 5 | Link Road between Pandu Ship Repair Facility to Pandu Port | IWT | INR 55 Crores | ||
| 6 | Fairway Development NW-16 | IWT | INR 2 Crores | ||
| 7 | O&M of navigational aids (NW-16) | IWT | INR 0.69 Crores | ||
| 8 | Procurement of Electric catamaran of 50 pax vessel | IWT | Tender under preparation | INR 18.17 Crores | |
| 9 | Construction of boundary wall and allied infrastructure at Harishchandrapuram and Muktyalya on Krishna river (NW-4) | IWT | Tender under preparation | INR 16.47 Crores | |
| 10 | Provision of 4 nos. HDPE jetties for NW-3 | IWT | Tender prepared. Being sent for concurrence | INR 2.38 Crores | |
| 11 | Installation of NRTNS in Goa | IWT | Tender under finalization | INR 54 Crores | |
| 12 | Construction of Infrastructure (terminal) for IWT on river Khawthlangtuipui | IWT | DPR Stage | INR 9.82 Crores | |
| 13 | Promotion of Inland Waterways & Tourism at Loktak lake, Barak river at Tamenglong District, Khuga Dam, Churachandpur District & Thoubal Multipurpose Projects (Mapithel Dam), Phungyar, Kamjong District | IWT | DPR Stage | INR 10.78 Crores |