Cargo movement on India's inland waterways reaches 145.5 MMT in FY 2024-2025

This was amidst the expansion of the number of national waterways.

India has recorded a total of 145.5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo movement on its inland waterways in the fiscal year (FY) 2024 to 2025, according to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

In a statement, the ministry said the latest data reflects a 20.86% compound annual growth rate from 18.1 MMT in FY 2013 to 2014.

“This milestone underscores the effectiveness of sustained investments and policy initiatives aimed at enhancing the country's inland waterways infrastructure,” the ministry said.

Traffic movement grew 9.34% in FY 2025, with coal, iron ore, iron ore fines, sand, and fly ash constituting over 68% of total cargo moved on national waterways during the year. Passenger movement has also reached 1.61 crore in 2023 to 2024.

Since 2014, the government has invested around INR 6,434 crore to develop waterway infrastructure.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has expanded the number of national waterways from 5 to 111 under the National Waterways Act, 2016. Their operational length has also increased from 2,716 kilometres (km) in 2014 to 2015) to 4,894 km in 2023 to 2024.

Targeting the Maritime India Vision 2030, IWAI will boost Inland Water Transport's freight share to 5% from 2% and traffic to over 200 MMT, with a further increase to over 500 MMT by 2047 under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision.

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