The Blue Lifeline: 7 New National Waterways for Maharashtra

The Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has identified 14 national waterways in Maharashtra, of which seven have been found suitable for development following feasibility assessments.

These waterways together span a navigable length of 662.97 km and are expected to significantly strengthen inland water transport (IWT) infrastructure in the state. The waterways cleared for development include key stretches such as the Godavari River, the Arunavati–Aran river system, Dabhol Creek–Vashishti River, and the Kalyan–Thane–Mumbai waterway, among others.

Maharashtra already holds a prominent position in India’s IWT network, with six waterways in the state accounting for 45.35 per cent of the country’s total inland waterway cargo movement in 2024–25. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is extending support to promote both cargo and passenger movement on these routes.

The initiative aligns with the Maharashtra Logistics Policy 2024, which seeks to drive port-led industrial development, strengthen coastal and riverine logistics, reduce overall logistics costs, and support balanced regional economic growth across the state’s coastal districts.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.