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IWAI milestones under Jal Marg Vikas Project
7th November 2025
The Inland Waterways Authority of India under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has achieved two major milestones in advancing India’s inland water transport ecosystem under the Jal Marg Vikas Project JMVP on National Waterway-1
The Kalughat Intermodal Terminal in Bihar has been formally handed over to SAPL - Summit Alliance Port East Gateway (India) Pvt. Ltd. for operations and maintenance
Meanwhile, cargo operations have commenced at the Haldia Multi-Modal Terminal (MMT) in West Bengal, operated by IRC Natural Resources Pvt. Ltd., with the first consignment of Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GBFS) from Tata Steel bound for Pandu, Guwahati in Assam
Together, these developments mark a significant step towards ensuring the sustainable, efficient and professional management of terminals developed under JMVP - furthering the the government’s vision of integrated multimodal connectivity, public-private partnership (PPP) and sustainable logistics along the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system
Kalughat IMT handed over to SAPL: Built by IWAI with financial and technical assistance from the World Bank, the Kalughat Intermodal Terminal (IMT) is strategically located in Saran district of Bihar and designed to handle a wide range of cargo, improving trade and connectivity in the region
Under the PPP arrangement, SAPL - Summit Alliance Port East Gateway (India) Pvt. Ltd. will operate and maintain the terminal on a revenue-sharing model with IWAI receiving 38.30% of the gross revenue generated from terminal operations. This model ensures a sustainable partnership framework that aligns commercial efficiency with public interest, supporting the long-term viability of the inland waterways ecosystem
Haldia Multi-Modal Terminal Begins Cargo Operations: At the downstream end of NW-1, the Haldia Multi-Modal Terminal (MMT) - also developed under JMVP - has commenced its operational journey with the loading of Tata Steel’s GBFS cargo destined for Guwahati. The terminal, handed over to IRC Natural Resources Pvt. Ltd. last month, has a cargo handling capacity of 3.08 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) and represents a major step in establishing inland waterways as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly logistics corridor connecting Eastern India with the North East
Both developments reinforce the Government of India’s vision to make Inland Water Transport (IWT) a key pillar of India’s logistics network. Under JMVP, IWAI has undertaken large-scale capacity enhancement of the 1,390 km stretch of NW-1, spanning Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal through fairway development, construction of multi-modal and intermodal terminals, modern navigational infrastructure and installation of over 60 community jetties for the benefit of local riverine communities