Waterways to Success

Inland waterways are one of the most environmentally-sustainable modes of transport. They emit 25 to 60 per cent less CO2 per tonne-kilometre than road or rail. Initiatives aimed at encouraging electric ferry services and cargo vessels harmonize the priorities of economic growth with the imperatives of environment protection. Transporting one tonne of cargo over one kilometre costs Rs 1.36 via water, compared to Rs 2.50 by rail and Rs 3.50 by road. This is why there is a push across the country to leverage these advantages.

- SAUMITRA MOHAN

Being a state with a great network of rivers and expansive water bodies, West Bengal boasts of one of the longest navigable waterway networks in the country, with approximately 4,593 kilometers of rivers and canals, of which 97 per cent are navigable. This rich network of waterways, anchored by rivers like the Ganges, and their tributaries including Damodar, Bhagirathi, and Hooghly, has historically played a pivotal role in trade, connectivity, and regional development.

As we move forward, our inland waterway ecosystem is not only helping us strengthen West Bengal's economy, but is also contributing significantly to India's sustainable development goals. In recent times, major strides have been made in the public and private sector in transforming the inland water scenario in the state.

West Bengal's waterways present an immense opportunity for economic and environmental progress. Be it strengthening and intensifying regional connectivity, promoting transformative solutions driving sustainable growth in the sector, encouraging tourism or opening avenues for livelihoods, inland waterways in West Bengal are increasingly becoming one of the major drivers of regional economic growth.

West Bengal's strategic location places it at the gateway to the Northeast, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, making it a vital hub for sub-regional trade. Our waterways, such as National Waterway-1 and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route, facilitate seamless cargo movement from Kolkata to the Northeast and beyond. Projects like the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project are unlocking alternative trade routes to Southeast Asia. Such projects are not just logistical breakthroughs, but also a testament to how inland waterways can bridge geographies, create new trade corridors and change lives.