Cheaper transport: It's time to take to water

Waterway highways should supplement road and railways

The approval of the National Waterways Bill, 2015, by both Houses of Parliament clears the decks for increasing the use of India's extensive network of rivers, canals and other water stretches for transport. The logistics sector has so far been dominated by road and rail transport, despite water transport being fuel-efficient, cost-effective and environment-friendly. The Waterways Bill seeks to create 101 national water highways, in addition to the existing five national and a few other smaller water corridors. To ward off the risk of inter-state disputes, the new statute has been put under Entry 24 of the Constitution's Union List, which specifically allows the Centre to make laws on shipping and navigation on inland water stretches classified as national waterways. The Bill was passed without any resistance from the Opposition, reflecting broad political consensus on the issue.

Water highways are cheaper than road and rail to develop and maintain. The cargo conveyance cost, too, is lower because of minimal energy requirements. One horsepower of energy can ferry four tonnes by water, against only 150 kg by road and 500 kg by rail. Many countries in Europe and elsewhere carry over 40 per cent of their passenger and freight traffic through water. But in India this proportion is only 3.5 per cent. However, to be operational year-round and able to carry heavy loads, India's water channels will need to have adequate width, depth and air clearance. Many rivers are seasonal, with water flows declining sharply after the monsoon. Navigating such rivers in the lean season may, therefore, require regular and extensive dredging and desilting. Moreover, water highways will require more river ports with their support infrastructure - road and rail connections, warehouses and other services. Heavy investment will be needed also to procure equipment, including dredgers, shipping vessels and barges of different sizes.

The government has indicated that it will explore multiple sources of finance, including market borrowings and tapping the National Clean Energy Fund and the Central Roads Fund. Private participation in infrastructure is needed - but will be possible only if such ventures become economically viable. For this, they will require adequate and assured two-way traffic. But the traffic in bulk goods, such as coal, minerals, foodgrain, fertiliser and similar other commodities is often unidirectional, compelling the vessels to return empty or under-loaded. This aspect will need to be weighed and addressed.