Indian statutory national-waterway development and regulatory authority

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)

IWAI hydrogen-powered inland passenger vessel afloat in an official National Waterways photograph

Inland Waterways Authority of India; official hydrogen fuel-cell vessel gallery photograph

Inland Waterways Authority of India is the statutory authority under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

Organization overview

Indian statutory national-waterway development and regulatory authority

Geographic footprint: Asia Pacific, India, Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system, National Waterway-1, and National Waterways. Core marine roles: National-waterway development and statutory regulation, Fairway maintenance, hydrographic surveying and dredging, Multimodal terminals, community jetties and floating pontoons, and Navigation locks, aids and river-information services.

Project records 4 Last reviewed 15 August 2026

Type

Indian statutory national-waterway development and regulatory authority

Active regions

Asia Pacific, India, Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system, National Waterway-1, National Waterways

Marine works roles

National-waterway development and statutory regulation, Fairway maintenance, hydrographic surveying and dredging, Multimodal terminals, community jetties and floating pontoons, Navigation locks, aids and river-information services, Public works procurement and contract administration, Inland vessel, dredger and ship-repair infrastructure, Passenger, cargo and last-mile waterway facilities

Role in marine infrastructure

Inland Waterways Authority of India is the statutory authority under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Established in 1986, it develops and regulates National Waterways and maintains fairways, terminals, jetties, locks, navigation aids and information systems. National Waterway-1 extends 1,620 km along the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system. Within it, the World Bank-supported Jal Marg Vikas Project covers 1,390 km between Varanasi and Haldia, targets navigation by 1,500-2,000 DWT vessels and has a published revised cost of INR 5,061.15 crore. The programme includes multimodal terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia, the Kalughat intermodal terminal, Balagarh terminal development and Farakka lock works. A separate 60-community-jetty programme combines floating pontoons and gangways with passenger facilities on shore. IWAI has awarded four linked packages for 28 concrete or steel floating jetties in Bihar and West Bengal. The cited contract records do not, on their own, confirm that all 28 jetties have been installed and accepted.

Related records 4

Sources used 16

Source collections