Guwahati, Feb 21: The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has taken a significant step towards revolutionizing urban transportation by identifying Guwahati and Dhubri as two cities from Assam for developing an Urban Water Transport System. In its 196th Board Meeting, the IWAI Board decided to conduct a feasibility study to explore the implementation of Water Metro projects in 17 cities across 12 states in India.
The feasibility study will be carried out by Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), which has been appointed to evaluate the viability of the initiative. This ambitious project aims to provide a sustainable and efficient mode of urban transport by leveraging the existing network of navigable waterways.
The decision to develop Water Metro projects aligns with IWAI’s broader strategy of strengthening urban water transport, ensuring greener, more efficient transit solutions for India’s rapidly expanding urban centres.
The Water Metro concept represents a breakthrough in urban transport, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional modes of travel. By making use of rivers, canals, and other water bodies, the initiative seeks to develop a reliable and seamless transit system for urban centres.
According to IWAI, the 17 cities identified for Water Metro development, in consultation with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, include: Ayodhya, Dhubri, Goa, Guwahati, Kollam, Kolkata, Prayagraj, Patna, Srinagar, Varanasi, Mumbai, Vasai, Mangalore (Gurupura River), Gandhinagar-Ahmedabad (Sabarmati River), Alleppey in Kerala as well as Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands where inter-island ferry services could transform connectivity.
The Urban Water Transport System will integrate with existing transport modes, providing connectivity between mainland cities and surrounding municipalities, panchayat areas, and islands. This initiative is expected to bolster tourism and stimulate regional economic growth.
A key feature of the project is its emphasis on sustainability. The Water Metro system will incorporate energy-efficient electric ferries, modernized terminals, and seamless multimodal connectivity, ensuring a non-polluting transport solution.
IWAI has been actively working on infrastructural improvements to harness waterways as a major driver of economic growth. Its initiatives span across the country, from Arunachal Pradesh in the East to Gujarat in the West and from Jammu & Kashmir in the North to Kerala in the South.
Under the Harit Nauka guidelines, the Authority has launched several green initiatives, including the procurement of electric catamarans for passenger transport. Two such vessels have already been deployed—one each in Varanasi and Ayodhya—with six more planned for Mathura and Guwahati. Additionally, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered vessel has successfully completed trials, marking another step toward cleaner, sustainable urban mobility.
