IWAI signs MoUs worth over ₹6,000 crore for development of Inland Waterways on National Waterway-1 (Ganga)

Key facts

• Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), nodal agency under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), signed 25 MoUs for inland waterways development.
• The MoUs aim to strengthen river cruise tourism, ship repair infrastructure, multimodal connectivity and clean-energy transportation along National Waterway-1 (Ganga).
• Uttar Pradesh receives substantial share of commitments focused on expanding operations in Varanasi and along the Ganga corridor.
• Key MoUs include ₹800 crore for cruise tourism, ₹350 crore ship repair facility in Varanasi with UP government, ₹200 crore for two river cruise terminals in Varanasi, ₹100 crore for electric vessel charging infrastructure, ₹200 crore Regional Centre of Excellence in Varanasi, ₹1,000 crore with Rhenus Logistics for tug-barges, ₹1,500 crore with NTCPWC of IIT-Madras for dredging supervision, and ₹1,500 crore with IPRCL for rail connectivity DPR and PMC services.