Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, how many inland waterways have been declared as 'national waterways'?

The correct answer is 111.Key Points

• The National Waterways Act, 2016:-
  • It was enacted to provide for the development, maintenance, and regulation of inland waterways for navigation and shipping.
  • The Act also provides for the declaration of certain inland waterways as 'national waterways' by the central government, based on their potential for development and transportation of goods and passengers.
  • The development of national waterways is expected to boost inland water transport, reduce transportation costs, and promote economic growth and regional connectivity.
  • 111 inland waterways have been declared as 'national waterways' under the National Waterways Act, 2016.

Additional Information

• Inland waterways:-
  • These​ are water bodies such as rivers, canals, lakes, and lagoons that are used for transportation, recreation, irrigation, and other purposes.
  • The development of inland waterways has been a priority for the Indian government to reduce congestion on roads and railways, promote sustainable transportation, and enhance trade and tourism.
  • Some of the major national waterways in India include the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system, the Brahmaputra river, the West Coast Canal in Kerala, and the Godavari-Krishna river system in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
  • The development of national waterways involves various activities such as dredging, construction of terminals, jetties, and navigational aids, and provision of facilities for cargo and passenger handling.