Feasibility Study On Sutlej National Waterway-98 Underway; Report Expected By May 2026: Centre

India has initiated steps to develop inland water transport on the Sutlej River in Punjab, with the river already declared as National Waterway-98 (NW-98), the government informed Parliament.

Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha on Friday (13 March), Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal stated that the Sutlej stretch from Bridge at Sunni in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh to Harike Barrage in Punjab has been designated as National Waterway-98.

The waterway also passes through Rupnagar district of Punjab.

The minister informed that a techno-economic feasibility study for developing inland water transport on this stretch is currently underway.

The study report is expected to be submitted by May 2026, after which further development decisions will be taken.

"Sutlej River has been declared as National Waterway-98 (NW-98) from
Bridge at Sunni (District Mandi, Himachal Pradesh) to Harike Barrage (Punjab) and passes through Rupnagar District also. The feasibility study of Sutlej River (NW-98) is being carried out and the report is expected to be submitted by May, 2026," the minister said.

An amount of Rs 2.82 crore has been sanctioned for undertaking the feasibility study of NW-98.

The report will assess the requirements for inland waterway infrastructure including jetties, terminals and other facilities, along with technical, hydrological and environmental considerations related to the river.

"An amount of Rs. 2.82 crore has been sanctioned for undertaking feasibility study of NW-98. The provision of waterway infrastructure such as jetties, terminals, technical, hydrological and environmental constraints etc. will be a part of the feasibility report," the minister said.

The minister said that preparation of the feasibility report represents the first step under the Maritime India Vision 2030 framework.

Based on the findings of the study, developmental works may be undertaken to improve transport connectivity in the region.

According to the minister, the proposed inland water transport development could benefit farmers, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the general public by providing an additional logistics route once the project moves beyond the feasibility stage.

"The preparation of feasibility report is the first step undertaken under the objectives of Maritime India Vision 2030. The developmental works will be undertaken for benefit of common public including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises and farmers as per the feasibility report," the minister said.

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