Page No. 58-78: Potential of Inland Waterways in India

Abstract

India has a total coastline of 7551 km with 13 major ports trust, approximately 200 minor ports. The country has extensive network of inland waterways in the form of rivers, canals, backwaters and creeks. Total Navigable length is 14,500 km, of which about 5200 km of rivers and 4000 km of canals can be used by mechanized craft and cargo. The Purpose of this paper is to find out the Potential and growth in Inland Water Transportation in India and also find out the major problems faced by the organizations involved in this field in India. This paper shows the detailed information about the Inland Water Transportation in India. The paper reveals that how since past few years the growth of Inland Water Transportation have been taken place in India. As per study done in some countries Inland Water Transportation has been known as most cost effective and fuel efficient mode of transportation which attracts the attention of scholars to make some efforts relatively to study of growth and challenges of Inland Water Transportation with reference to India since efforts has been made in this paper to highlight present status, growth, opportunities and problem of Inland Water Transportation in India