DEVELOPING INLAND WATERWAY ECOSYSTEM IN WEST BENGAL

West Bengal, with its vast river network and expansive waterways!

- Dr. 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 kilometres 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 the 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 testimony to how inland waterways can bridge geographies, create new trade corridors and change lives.