Indian Government Launches Jalvahak Scheme to Boost Waterway Cargo Transportation
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Jalvahak Incentive Scheme |
| Launched By | Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal |
| Objective | Encourage long-haul cargo transportation via national waterways, decongest road and rail networks, and promote sustainable transport. |
| Covered Waterways | National Waterways 1 (Ganga), 2 (Brahmaputra), and 16 (Barak) |
| Incentive | Up to 35% reimbursement on operating costs for transporting goods over 300 km |
| Commencement | Fixed-schedule services flagged off from Kolkata, operating between Kolkata, Patna, Varanasi, and Guwahati |
| Future Goals | Increase cargo movement to 200 million tonnes by 2030 and 500 million tonnes by 2047 |
| Investment | ₹95.4 crore planned by 2027 |
| Cargo Growth | 700% increase from 18.07 million tonnes (2013-14) to 132.89 million tonnes (2023-24) |
| Reimbursement Cap | Up to ₹10 lakh per cargo owner |
| Overseeing Authority | Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) |
| Logistics Cost Target | Reduce logistics costs from 13% to 9% of GDP by 2030 |