Srinagar: Significant progress has been achieved on the development of National Waterway-49, a 76-km corridor on the Jhelum river from Pantha Chowk here to Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district, officials said.
This was revealed during a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday to review the progress and future roadmap for the development of inland-water-transport infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir by the transport department, in collaboration with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
IWAI Chairperson Sunil Paliwal said significant progress has been achieved on the development of National Waterway-49 on the Jhelum, where a river-cruise corridor from Pantha Chowk to Wular Lake spanning nearly 76 km is being developed.
He said the construction of eight floating jetties along the Jhelum corridor is underway and is expected to be completed by July.
The development of associated onshore infrastructure is targeted for completion by July 2027, while the installation of navigational aids is scheduled to be completed by July 2026.
Fairway maintenance along the river stretch is being carried out jointly by the IWAI and the Jammu and Kashmir government through the deployment of dredgers to ensure safe and uninterrupted navigation, an official spokesperson said.
He said the procurement of 10 hybrid electric boats with a carrying capacity of 20 passengers each is being processed by the IWAI, with bids presently under evaluation. The contract is likely to be awarded by May, while the delivery of the vessels is expected by March 2027.
Reviewing the interventions being undertaken in the Jammu region, the chief secretary was informed that cruise-tourism infrastructure is also being developed on the Chenab river under National Waterway-26.
A nine-km river-cruise stretch from Reasi to the Akhnoor Fort is proposed, where the construction of two jetties has already been awarded and is expected to be completed by July.
Moreover, the development of onshore facilities has been entrusted with the Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Limited (IPRCL), with the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) presently underway and expected to be completed by June.
The meeting was informed that adequate water depth is available throughout the year for cruise operations in the proposed stretch.
Similarly, under National Waterway-84 on the Ravi river, a 15-km river-cruise corridor is being developed at Sohar in Jammu district. The construction of a jetty has already been awarded and is likely to be completed by July.
DPR preparation for onshore facilities is also in progress through the IPRCL and expected to be finalised by June, while navigational aids are proposed to be tendered by July and completed by December.
The meeting focussed on the promotion of sustainable, eco-friendly and modern water-transport systems across major rivers of Jammu and Kashmir, with a special emphasis on the development of cruise tourism, urban-water-transport facilities and navigational infrastructure on the notified national waterways in the Union Territory.
The chief secretary directed the departments concerned to work in close coordination with the IWAI for timely execution of all components of the project.
He stressed that the development of modern water-transport infrastructure would not only provide a sustainable mode of transportation but will also significantly enhance tourism potential, generate employment opportunities and create new avenues for economic activity along riverfronts across the Union Territory.
Dulloo underscored the need for ensuring a seamless integration of water-transport facilities with the tourism infrastructure, while maintaining ecological sensitivity and preserving the natural character of rivers and surrounding landscapes.
