India's Inland Waterways Infrastructure Development
India is building a safer and smarter inland navigation ecosystem as waterway traffic expands significantly. The country has 111 National Waterways spanning 20,187 km across 23 States and 4 Union Territories, with 32 currently operational. Cargo movement on inland waterways has demonstrated remarkable growth, increasing from 29 million metric tonnes (MMT) in 2014–15 to 218 MMT in 2025–26, representing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20.13%. This growth has already surpassed the Maritime India Vision 2030 target of 200 MMT.
Hydrographic Surveys and Navigation Infrastructure
The Inland Waterways Authority of India conducts regular hydrographic surveys across National Waterways to monitor river conditions. As of September 2026, regular thalweg surveys cover 22 National Waterways, conducted weekly, fortnightly, or monthly depending on the waterway. These surveys measure river depths, bed profiles, shoals, flow characteristics, and morphological changes affecting navigability. A critical output is the Least Available Depth (LAD), which determines permissible vessel draft and influences cargo-carrying capacity.
India maintains a robust system of Aids to Navigation (AtoN) including lighted buoys, radar beacons, lamp posts, channel markers, and lighthouses. National Waterway-3 (Kerala) exemplifies this infrastructure with 312 solar-powered lighted FRP buoys and 17 beacon lamp posts supporting 24×7 navigation.
Riverine Lighthouses on Brahmaputra
In March 2026, India announced its first four riverine lighthouses on the Brahmaputra (National Waterway-2) at a cost of ₹74 crore. The lighthouses are located at Pandu, Bogibeel, Silghat, and Biswanath Ghat, rising 20 metres above ground with a geographical range of 14 nautical miles and luminous range of 8-10 nautical miles. These solar-powered structures include weather-observation sensors and feature museums, amphitheatres, cafeterias, landscaped public spaces, children's play areas, and souvenir shops.
National Waterway-2 connects Assam's Dhubri to Sadiya across 891 kilometres, making it the longest navigable stretch of any Indian waterway. Cargo movement on NW-2 increased from 0.90 MMT in FY 2024–25 to 1.29 MMT in FY 2025–26, supporting tea, coal, and fertiliser supply chains.
Digital Navigation Platforms
Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) have been prepared for 18 operational and tidal waterways, available through portals like PANI (Portal for Asset and Navigation Information) and IWAI Vessel Tracker. The IWAI Vessel Tracker and PANI Portal form a web and mobile-based e-navigation system providing real-time vessel tracking, updated navigation routes, and depth information.
In 2025, India launched Naudarshika, the National River Traffic and Navigation System, for safe, efficient, and sustainable vessel movement. The system incorporates real-time LAD information and works alongside existing digital platforms. River Information Services (RIS) has been implemented on National Waterway-1 (Ganga) across three stretches: Haldia–Farakka, Farakka–Patna, and Patna–Varanasi, featuring 4 control stations, 13 base stations, AIS equipment, VHF communication, and meteorological sensors.