{"id":86925,"date":"2026-02-09T15:18:40","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T09:48:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=86925"},"modified":"2026-02-09T15:18:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T09:48:40","slug":"national-waterways-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/national-waterways-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"National Waterways in India, List, Types, Significance"},"content":{"rendered":"

National Waterways in India are officially declared rivers, canals, and backwaters developed for inland water transport and navigation. India currently has <\/span>111 National Waterways<\/b>, including major ones like the Ganga (NW-1), Brahmaputra (NW-2), and West Coast Canal (NW-3). These waterways provide a <\/span>cost-effective and eco-friendly mode of transport<\/b>, especially for bulk goods and cargo movement. They also help reduce pressure on roads and railways, improve regional connectivity, and support trade, tourism, and economic development in the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

Important National Waterways in India List<\/b><\/h2>\n

India has several strategically important National Waterways that strengthen inland water transport, reduce logistics costs, and improve regional connectivity. The Important National Waterways in India List is given below.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Important National Waterways in India List<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

National Waterway<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

River \/ Canal<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Location \/ States Covered<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Significance<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

National Waterway 1 (NW-1)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Ganga River<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Longest National Waterway; connects northern India with eastern ports and supports bulk cargo and river tourism.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

National Waterway 2 (NW-2)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Brahmaputra River<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Assam<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Lifeline of Northeast India; crucial for transport of tea, coal, petroleum products, and improving regional connectivity.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

National Waterway 3 (NW-3)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

West Coast Canal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Kerala<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Supports passenger transport and cargo movement; promotes backwater tourism and coastal trade.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

National Waterway 4 (NW-4)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Krishna\u2013Godavari River System<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Enhances agricultural and industrial transport; improves inland\u2013coastal connectivity in South India.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

National Waterway 5 (NW-5)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Brahmani River & Mahanadi Delta<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Odisha, West Bengal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Important for coal, fertilizers, and industrial goods from mining and port-linked regions.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

National Waterway 6 (NW-6)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Barak River<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Assam<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Improves connectivity in southern Assam and links remote regions with trade centers.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

National Waterway 7 (NW-7)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Godavari River<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Andhra Pradesh, Telangana<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Supports inland cargo transport and regional economic development.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

National Waterway 8 (NW-8)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Alappuzha\u2013Changanassery Canal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Kerala<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Important for passenger transport and local trade in Kerala\u2019s backwater region.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

National Waterway 10 (NW-10)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Amba River<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Maharashtra<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Facilitates movement of goods between ports and industrial zones near Mumbai.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

National Waterway 16 (NW-16)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Barak\u2013Kushiyara Stretch<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Assam<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Strengthens inland transport and cross-border connectivity with Bangladesh.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

National Waterway 27 (NW-27)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Cumberjua Canal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Goa<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Supports iron ore transport and boosts tourism-related water transport.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

National Waterway 37 (NW-37)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Gandak River<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Bihar, Uttar Pradesh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Supports agricultural trade and rural connectivity in the Ganga basin.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

National Waterway 58 (NW-58)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

River Mandovi<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Goa<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Promotes inland water tourism and transport of mining and local goods.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

National Waterway 73 (NW-73)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

River Narmada<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Facilitates movement of agricultural and industrial goods; supports port connectivity.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

National Waterway 97 (NW-97)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Sunderbans Waterways<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

West Bengal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Vital for eco-tourism, disaster relief, and connectivity in delta and island regions.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

National Waterways Act 2016<\/b><\/h2>\n

The National Waterways Act, 2016 was enacted by the Government of India to promote inland water transport and develop waterways as an alternative mode of transportation.<\/span><\/p>\n