The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCI) have signed Memoranda of Understanding and operational frameworks for maintaining navigable depths in National Waterways 1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River system), NW-2 (Brahmaputra River), and NW-16 (Barak River). On NW-1, fairway development work for maintaining the Haldia Access Channel to the Multimodal Terminal Haldia has been entrusted to Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, which subsequently engages DCI for maintenance dredging under supervision. For NW-2 and other waterways in the North Eastern Region, IWAI awarded dredging works directly to DCI for a three-year period covering stretches from Bangladesh Border to Jogighopa and Jogighopa to Pandu on NW-2, and Bhanga to Badarpur on NW-16.
Currently, 34 shallow-depth dredgers are deployed across the waterways: 24 dredgers on NW-1 (17 through contract agencies and 7 departmental dredgers), 7 dredgers in the North Eastern Region (5 on NW-2 and 2 on NW-16 under DCI contract), and 3 dredgers on NW-3 (1 private dredger and 2 departmental dredgers). Dredging works on NW-1 are being undertaken in phases from Tribeni to Varanasi. In the Tribeni to Barh stretch, dredging is performed under Assured Depth Contracts to maintain a Least Available Depth (LAD) of 3.0 meters, while the Barh to Varanasi stretch uses Quantity-Based Contracts to maintain a minimum LAD of 2.5 meters. Under these Quantity-Based Contracts, 42.68 lakh cubic metres of sediment has been dredged, with 22.81 lakh cubic metres specifically in the Bihar stretch.
IWAI follows a long-term, reach-specific fairway development framework based on hydrographic surveys, river morphology, and traffic requirements. The framework incorporates performance-based and quantity-based dredging contracts supplemented by river conservancy measures including bandalling, channel training, and navigational aids deployment where technically feasible. Fairway development contracts are awarded for three years with provisions for two-year extensions. IWAI employs specialized shallow-draft dredgers, modern hydrographic survey systems, and continuous channel monitoring to maintain navigable fairways, with operations planned according to navigational requirements and river conditions while minimizing disruption to vessel movement and ensuring sustainable river management.