India's Inland Waterways Expansion and Navigation Infrastructure Development
India's inland waterways have experienced remarkable growth in cargo movement, 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 performance has already surpassed the Maritime India Vision 2030 target of 200 MMT. The country maintains 111 National Waterways spanning 20,187 km across 23 States and 4 Union Territories, with 32 currently operational. Water transport offers significant cost advantages, moving a tonne of freight at roughly one-third the cost of road transport and half of rail, while generating a fraction of the carbon emissions.
Hydrographic Surveys and Navigation Infrastructure
The Inland Waterways Authority of India conducts regular hydrographic surveys across National Waterways to monitor river conditions and navigability. As of September 2026, regular thalweg surveys cover 22 National Waterways with varying frequencies—weekly, fortnightly, or monthly depending on the waterway. These surveys measure river depths, bed profiles, shoals, flow characteristics, and morphological changes, producing critical Least Available Depth (LAD) data that determines permissible vessel draft and influences cargo-carrying capacity. The surveys also cover the Indian portion of the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route, facilitating cargo movement between India and Bangladesh.
Navigation Aids and Lighthouse Development
Under the Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021, 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. In March 2026, India announced its first four riverine lighthouses on the Brahmaputra (National Waterway-2) at Pandu, Bogibeel, Silghat, and Biswanath Ghat. The ₹74-crore project features 20-meter tall structures with 14 nautical mile geographical range and 8-10 nautical mile luminous range, powered entirely by solar energy and equipped with weather-observation sensors. The complexes also include museums, amphitheaters, cafeterias, landscaped public spaces, children's play areas, and souvenir shops.
Digital Navigation Systems and Traffic Management
Technology transformation includes digital platforms providing real-time navigation information. 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 PANI portal provides details about National Waterways, fairways, infrastructure facilities, cross-river structures, jetty connectivity, and emergency services. The IWAI Vessel Tracker and PANI Portal together form a web and mobile-based e-navigation system offering real-time vessel tracking, updated navigation routes, and depth information. In 2025, India launched Naudarshika, the National River Traffic and Navigation System, which incorporates real-time LAD information for safe and efficient vessel movement. River Information Services (RIS) has been implemented on National Waterway-1 (Ganga) across three stretches—Haldia–Farakka, Farakka–Patna, and Patna–Varanasi—including 4 control stations, 13 base stations, Automatic Identification System equipment, Very High Frequency communication, and meteorological sensors, with RIS consoles provided on 30 departmental vessels.
Brahmaputra Waterway Performance
National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra) connects Assam's Dhubri to Sadiya across 891 kilometers, 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 supply chains for tea, coal, and fertilizer alongside passenger and tourist movement. The new lighthouses will support 24×7 navigation on this critical corridor, combining navigation safety with technological support and tourism development.