IWAI opens office in Srinagar to develop inland water transport on J&K rivers

SRINAGAR: The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, on Tuesday set up its new office in Srinagar to strengthen J&K’s Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector. The river navigation infrastructure will be developed in three national waterways in the Union Territory — NW-26 (River Chenab); NW-49 (River Jhelum), and NW-84 (River Ravi).

A govt spokesperson said J&K govt and IWAI had signed an MoU in March this year in this regard, under which the authority would launch works, including setting up of floating jetties at 10 locations in J&K, development of navigational fairway by dredging wherever required, night navigational aids and regular hydrographic surveys for safe plying of vessels in these waterways.

“IWAI has made several infrastructural interventions to develop waterways as a robust engine of growth. With proactive steps like developing IWT terminals and related infrastructure, IWAI is working towards utilising the immense potential of rivers across the country,” the spokesperson said.

Apart from this, other projects — such as developing water navigation infrastructure in Dal and Wullar lakes in Kashmir — are also under IWAI’s purview. Earlier, IWAI had proposed to develop a cruise hotel in Wullar lake, officials said.

“The partnership between IWAI and J&K government is a significant step that promises to promote eco-tourism in the UT while also stimulating the local economy,” the spokesperson added.