The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has introduced the Jalvahak Scheme, aiming to boost cargo movement through India’s inland waterways. This initiative seeks to optimize supply chains, reduce logistics costs, and decongest road and rail networks by leveraging the untapped potential of National Waterways.

About Jalvahak Scheme

Objective:

• To unlock trade potential via inland waterways.
• Promote sustainable and cost-effective transportation across India’s key waterways:
  • National Waterway 1 (Ganga).
  • National Waterway 2 (Brahmaputra).
  • National Waterway 16 (Barak River).

Duration: The scheme is valid for three years, incentivizing long-haul cargo transport while optimizing supply chains for major shipping companies, freight forwarders, and trade bodies.

Key Features

Incentives: Offers up to 35% reimbursement on operating costs for cargo owners transporting goods over distances exceeding 300 km via waterways.

Fixed Scheduled Services: Initiates Scheduled Day Sailing Services on specific stretches

• NW 1: Kolkata – Patna – Varanasi – Patna – Kolkata.
• NW 2: Kolkata to Pandu (via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route).

Streamlined Operations: Ensures timely delivery through regular freight services, enhancing reliability for cargo movement.

Implementation: Jointly managed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Inland & Coastal Shipping Ltd (ICSL).

It also encourages to reduce logistics costs, decongest road and railways, and adapting to a sustainable mode of transportation.