THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 11, 2026
Odisha is poised for a fresh inland waterway push with the
Centre identifying two new National Waterways in the state for development in
2027-28, a move that could open up new opportunities in cruise tourism,
passenger transport and water-based economic activity.
The two waterways — NW-22, covering the
Birupa-Badi-Genguti-Brahmani river system, and NW-96 on the Subarnarekha River
— are among 19 new National Waterways identified across the country for
development over the next five years.
The information was provided by Union Minister for Ports,
Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha
on Tuesday.
The proposed corridors are expected to strengthen passenger
connectivity and provide a platform for expanding cruise and river tourism,
potentially creating new avenues for private investment and allied businesses
such as hospitality, tourism services and local transport.
The development assumes significance for Odisha, which has a
vast network of rivers and waterways and is seeking to tap its water-based
tourism and connectivity potential. The planned corridors could also help
integrate river-based transport with the state's broader tourism and regional
development infrastructure.
The Centre has already declared 111 inland waterways across
the country as National Waterways under the National Waterways Act, 2016. Of
these, 32 are currently operational for cargo and passenger movement.
The government, however, has maintained that its immediate
focus is on developing waterways that have already been declared and found
feasible for cargo and passenger transportation before expanding the network
further.
The identification of the 19 additional waterways follows
studies undertaken in pursuance of the Budget announcement for 2026-27. The new
corridors have been selected predominantly for cruise tourism and passenger
ferry operations.
Besides Odisha, the first phase in 2026-27 will cover three
waterways in Jammu and Kashmir, two in Karnataka and one in Goa. These include
the Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi rivers, the Kabini and Sharavati rivers, and the
Sal River, respectively.
In 2027-28, the Centre will also take up the Kali and
Ghataprabha rivers in Karnataka. The programme will subsequently expand to
waterways in Goa and Kerala in 2028-29, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu in 2029-30,
and Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh in 2030-31.
For Odisha, the proposed development could give an added impetus to river-based tourism while improving passenger mobility and creating an ecosystem for businesses linked to cruises, ferries, hospitality and recreational activities.
The government has planned the phased development of the new waterways over the next five years, signalling a gradual expansion of inland water transport infrastructure beyond the country's existing operational network.
