Despite a vast coast line and a number of waterways, why has India not been able to achieve its potential in bringing a significant modal shift from rail and road to waterways?

Challenges in shifting from rail and road

1. Lack of investments in waterways transport.
2. Lack of infrastructure facilities like boats in suburbs.
3. Water pollution in streams, lakes → difficult to use it for transportation.
4. Time consuming journeys.
5. Lack of institutional capital availability to promote waterways.
6. Difficulty in loading and unloading due to lack of efficient cargo handling facilities.

Opportunities

• 1. Sagarmala (ports led development, Empowering coastal communities)
• 1. National waterways Act, 2016 (To develop 111 water ways network)
• 1. Development of network on Ganga river from Varanasi to Dankuni
• 1. Establishment of state of art facility at Shahbajgarh

Way forward

• 1. Political will power and focused attention
• 1. Encourage private sector investments
• 1. Awareness about it's environment benefits