Recently the government launched a major policy called ‘Jalvahak’ to promote cargo movement via inland waterways on National Waterways (NW) along the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Barak rivers.

About the Jalvahak Scheme

• The Jalvahak Scheme is a joint initiative of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Inland and Coastal Shipping Ltd (ICSL), a fully-owned subsidiary of the Shipping Corporation of India Ltd (SCIL).
• Aim: To unlock the trade potential of inland waterways, reduce logistics costs, decongest road and rail networks, and promote sustainable transportation.
• Eligibility: Cargo owners transporting goods over distances exceeding 300 km via waterways will be eligible for up to 35% reimbursement of operating costs incurred on National Waterways 1 (Ganga River), National Waterways 2 (Brahmaputra River), and National Waterways 16 (Barak River) through the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route.
• The scheme is initially valid for three years.

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About National Waterways

• The National Waterways Act, 2016 declared a total of 111 inland waterways as national waterways, which include five waterways that were previously declared as national waterways.
• Out of the 111 national waterways, 13 are currently operational for shipping, navigation, and the movement of cargo and passenger vessels.

National Waterways (NW 1, NW 2, and NW 16)