The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is set to host a landmark Consultative Workshop on the development of Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) on River Ganga (National Waterway 1) under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) in Patna—marking the first such event in Bihar. The high-level inter-ministerial workshop will be chaired by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, with key participation from Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Shantanu Thakur, Bihar Water Resources Minister Vijay Chaudhury, Bihar Transport Minister Sheela Kumari, and Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh.
The workshop brings together policymakers and stakeholders from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal to review and advance the progress of cargo movement along NW-1, which spans the Ganga River. The discussions will highlight 11 years of growth in IWT and explore strategies to further unlock regional trade opportunities, enhance hinterland connectivity, and stimulate economic growth.
IWAI Chairman Vijay Kumar (IAS) stated that Patna’s role as host city underscores its potential to emerge as a key Inland Water Transport hub on the Varanasi–Haldia stretch. The day-long event will feature both policy-level and technical discussions, focused on enhancing infrastructure and operational efficiency across the waterway.
The Jal Marg Vikas Project is driving the revival of NW-1 through strategic initiatives such as fairway development, construction of multimodal terminals, navigational locks, community jetties, and deployment of modern navigational aids. These efforts aim to create a reliable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective transport system for both cargo and passenger movement across the states of Bihar, UP, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
