NATIONAL WATERWAYS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), an autonomous organization under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has developed a Roll on-Roll off (Ro-Ro) terminal at Muktyala in National Waterway (NW)- 4 (Krishna river) to facilitate Ro-Ro movement. IWAI has also constructed and handed over four floating Jetties to Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) during the year 2024 to facilitate the tourism activities. Further, the construction of Ro-Ro terminal at Harishchandrapuram in Andhra Pradesh has been awarded.

The details of funds allocated and utilised for development of NW-4 during the last three years are as under:

The cargo and passenger movement on NW-4 during 2025-26 was 5.71 Million Tonne and 2.34 Million respectively.

The transfer of land of State Irrigation Dept (3.80 acres) at Ibrahimpatnam, NTR District, Andhra Pradesh is under progress for development of Ro-Ro terminal facilities on NW-4. The availability of adequate water depth for safe navigation in Vijayawada-Muktyala stretch depends on the regulated releases from the Pulichintala Dam, resulting in seasonal variation in navigable conditions. Further, the presence of low- level bridges, old navigational locks and encroachments etc, affects the development and navigation on NW-4.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

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MI/Indu