Water Transport: Inland Waterways

A trip on a waterway pass is the perfect way to get a taste of a new country. You won’t just see the big cities and tourist attractions; you will have the chance to travel through the countryside, experience village life, and see some of the world’s most amazing wildlife along the way. It can be more enriching and exciting if you take a waterway pass. The experience you will have of the countryside, village life, wildlife and villages will be memorable. Travelling via water transport over air or road modes comes with an advantage- it uses the right of way (rivers and canals) that permits unhindered navigation at cheaper rates and speedier deliveries.

What are Inland Waterways?

An inland waterway is a navigable channel used to transport goods, materials, or other movable objects. Inland waterways consist of rivers, lakes, canals and backwaters. Rivers and lakes are natural waterways, whereas canals and backwaters are artificial.

The inland waterways are used for transporting heavy loads through the water. The transportation system on the water is commonly referred to as marine transport. They can also transport passengers, and this is commonly known as canal boat cruises.

The inland waterways have played a vital role in the country’s development. Before the railways were constructed in India, river transport was the only means to carry enormous quantities of goods from one destination to another. Almost all the rivers and lakes are navigable, but canals are used only by barge traffic.

Benefits of Using Inland Waterways

With the use of inland waterways all over the world, it can be confirmed that there is less environmental pollution. There are lesser chances of ground subsidence and liquefaction. The infrastructure cost is also less when compared to other modes of transport. PIPES are not affected by most natural calamities such as tropical cyclones, earthquakes, floods and sea waves. Sea waves or storm waves have little effect on PIPES continuing to operate without interruptions.

1. Inland waterways transport is a highly environmentally friendly mode of transportation. It causes no air pollution and less noise pollution. The CO2 emission of this mode of transportation is also very low.
2. The inland waterways are very space-efficient compared to other modes of land transport. It needs only a small amount of land to develop this transport system.
3. It has high labour productivity per unit of transport output. This means that the inland waterway is characterised by its high output over a comparatively lesser input on labour work.
4. The material requirement per unit of transport volume is very low for the inland waterways. It is claimed that the energy requirement per unit of transport volume is less compared to other transport modes.
5. Inland waterways have low operation costs and lower fixed costs compared to other modes of transportation. The operation cost per ton-kilometre is less in the case of inland waterways compared to railways and highways.

Inland Waterways in India

Earlier, waterways were the main mode of transport in India, as it was the cheapest and easiest way to move from one place to another. But in the present scenario, railways and roadways are preferred more than waterways.

Inland water transportation is available in only a few states of India, mainly in Kerala, Gujarat, West Bengal and Assam. It is difficult for other states to avail of this mode of transport as the rivers are unnavigable most of the time due to the low water depth.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has identified 111 waterways in India, including rivers, canals, backwaters and creeks. Of these, only 16 waterways have been declared National Waterways by the Government of India. These national waterways are maintained by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), a statutory body established in 1986 under the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways (MOSRTH). Inland water transportation is also called Inland shipping Waterborne transportation or Inland Navigation Domestic Navigation or Inland Trade.

Inland Waterways Authority of India

The Inland Waterways Authority of India(IWAI) was constituted in October 1986 to develop and regulate inland waterways for shipping and navigation. The Inland Waterways Authority of India primarily undertakes projects about developing and maintaining IWT infrastructure on national waterways through grants from the Ministry of Shipping. IWAI is chaired by the Minister for Shipping (India). Its headquarters is located in Noida, and it has regional offices at Patna, Kolkata, Guwahati, Allahabad and Kochi.

The authority is responsible for developing and maintaining the inland waterways for shipping and navigation. The authority is currently trying to expand the country’s waterways network. The authority has completed making the river Ganga from Varanasi to Haldia navigable. It has also made Brahmaputra’s Dhubri-Sadiya stretch navigable. Some parts of the river Brahmaputra have been made navigable, and some parts of river Barak in Assam.

The main objective is to increase freight traffic for domestic cargo movement to reduce road congestion and improve inland water transport systems, which could play a significant role in economic development.

Conclusion

Inland waterways have numerous benefits. Many of these benefits are related to freight transportation. The major advantage is that it will save us money. It also helps us reduce traffic levels and climate change throughout the globe. Since it does not produce any pollution, it is considered a better option than the other modes of transportation available. They can also transport passengers, and this is commonly known as canal boat cruises. In the end, we can say that the transport system is becoming more efficient by using inland waterways for a safer and faster journey.