The regulation, formulated by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) aim to attract private investment in inland waterways.
- IWAI under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is the nodal agency for development of waterways
Key Provisions of the Regulations
- Scope: Covers existing and new terminals, both permanent and temporary (5-year term, extendable).
- No-objection Certificate (NoC): Any entity including private, wishing to develop or operate an inland waterway terminal on a national waterway, needs to obtain a NoC from IWAI.
- Terminal developer and operator responsibilities: They will be responsible for the technical design and construction of the terminal, ensuring it aligns with their business plan and provides adequate access.
- Digital Portal for Terminal Applications: To be developed by IWAI to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accessibility, for Ease of Doing Business.
Other Key Initiatives to Promote Inland Waterways
- National Waterways Act, 2016: Declared 111 waterways as National Waterways to boost inland water transport.
- ‘Jalvahak’ Scheme: Provides up to 35% reimbursement on operating costs for cargo transport via NW 1 (Ganga), NW 2 (Brahmaputra), and NW 16 (Barak) through the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route.
- Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC):Apex policy forum organized by IWAI to promote inland waterways.