Why in the News?
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, upgraded its sub-office in Varanasi to a full-fledged Regional Office. This move aims to strengthen the implementation of Inland Water Transport (IWT) activities in National Waterway-1 (NW-1), covering the Ganga River, and other waterways in Uttar Pradesh.
IWAI’s Regional Expansion:
Important Projects by IWAI:
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About Inland Waterways Authority of India
- Established in 1986 under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985.
- Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
- Objective: To reduce the underutilization of India’s 14,500 kilometers of navigable waterways, which account for just 2% of the transportation mix.
- Structural Mandate:
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- Responsible for regulating and developing inland waterways for shipping and navigation.
- Develops and maintains Inland Water Transport (IWT) infrastructure on national waterways with grants from the Ministry of Shipping.
- Ensures safe and efficient navigation to integrate waterways into the national transport system.
- Powers and Functions:
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- Planning and Execution: Implements and maintains navigation and shipping infrastructure projects.
- National Waterways Management: Oversees 111 national waterways under the National Waterways Act, 2016.
- Infrastructure Development: Focuses on dredging, terminal construction, and maintaining year-round navigability for vessels.
PYQ:[2016] Enumerate the problems and prospects of inland water transport in India. |
