← Back to overview
By the Numbers

India's Inland Waterways — Key Facts

Essential statistics and figures on India's inland waterway network, terminals and development.

National Waterways
111
Declared under the NW Act, 2016
2016India Code
Declared network length
20,163.5 km
All 111 waterways combined
n.d.MoPSW
Navigable potential
≈14,500 km
Approximate, per IWAI
n.d.IWAI
Inland waterway cargo
145.84 MT
Reported for the year
FY 2024-25MoPSW
NW-1
1,620 km
Ganga–Bhagirathi–Hooghly
n.d.MoPSW
NW-2
891 km
Brahmaputra, Dhubri to Sadiya
n.d.MoPSW
NW-3
205 km
West Coast Canal
n.d.MoPSW
JMVP corridor
1,390 km
Haldia to Varanasi, within NW-1
n.d.IWAI
IWAI established
1986
27 October 1986
1986IWAI
NW Act
2016
National Waterways Act, 2016
2016India Code