Geography · Ch 15 — Transport and Communication — India
Water Transport
Water Transport
Why Water Transport Matters
Water transport is the cheapest mode of moving goods and people in India. It is especially suited for heavy and bulky cargo because it consumes less fuel per tonne-kilometre than road or rail, and it causes less pollution. Despite these advantages, it carries only about 1% of the country's total transportation — a tiny share compared to roads and railways.
Two Main Types
Water transport in India is divided into two broad categories:
- Inland waterways — rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks, and lakes
- Oceanic waterways — sea routes along the coastline and across oceans
Inland Waterways
Historical Context and Challenges
Before railways arrived, inland waterways were the chief mode of transport. But they lost out badly to road and railway competition. A further blow came from irrigation: large amounts of river water were diverted for farming, making many stretches too shallow for navigation.
India has about 14,500 km of navigable inland waterways, yet they contribute only about 1% to the country's transport.
National Waterways
To develop and regulate these waterways, the Inland Waterways Authority was set up in 1986. A major push came with the National Waterways Act, 2016, which declared 111 inland waterways as National Waterways (NWs). This includes the 5 that had already been declared earlier.
The Authority has also identified 10 other inland waterways that could be upgraded in the future.
The Five Original National Waterways
| Waterway | Stretch | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| NW 1 | Prayagraj – Haldia (1,620 km) | The most important waterway. Mechanical boats can go up to Patna; ordinary boats up to Haridwar. Developed in three parts: Haldia–Farakka (560 km), Farakka–Patna (460 km), Patna–Prayagraj (600 km). |
| NW 2 | Sadiya–Dhubri stretch (891 km) | The Brahmaputra is navigable by steamers up to Dibrugarh (1,384 km total). This stretch is shared by India and Bangladesh. |
| NW 3 | Kottapuram–Kollam stretch (205 km) | Includes 168 km of west coast canal, plus the Champakara canal (14 km) and Udyogmandal canal (23 km). |
| NW 4 | Specified stretches of Godavari and Krishna rivers, along with Kakinada–Puducherry canal stretch (1,078 km) | Connects river systems with canals. |
| NW 5 | Specified stretches of river Brahmani, Matai river, delta channels of Mahanadi and Brahmani rivers, and East Coast canals (588 km) | Links river deltas and coastal canals. |
The Special Case of Kerala's Backwaters
The backwaters (locally called Kayal) of Kerala hold special significance. They provide cheap transport and have become a major tourist attraction. The famous Nehru Trophy Boat Race (Vallamkali) is held in these backwaters every year.
Oceanic Routes
India's Coastline and Ports
India has a vast coastline of approximately 7,517 km, including the islands. This coastline is served by:
- 12 major ports (government-controlled)
- 200 minor ports (state-controlled or private)
Role in the Economy
Oceanic routes are the backbone of India's foreign trade: …