The National Waterways Act, 2016
The National Waterways Act, 2016
The National Waterways Act, 2016, regulates shipping and navigation across India by declaring 111 specific inland waterways, including major rivers, canals, and creeks, as national waterways. It applies to commercial shipping operations, vessel operators, and the central government, which assumes control over their development through the Inland Waterways Authority of India. This legislation matters because it shifts the management of these water routes to federal oversight to standardize and develop transport infrastructure. By promoting inland water transport as a cheaper, fuel-efficient alternative to roads and railways, the act seeks to boost national trade, reduce pollution, and ease land congestion.
- 1. Short title and commencement.
- 2. Existing national waterways and declaration of certain inland waterways as national waterways.
- 3. Declaration as to expediency of control and development by Union of waterways specified in Schedule for certain purposes.
- 4. Amendment of section 2 of Act 82 of 1985.
- 5. Repeal of certain enactments and saving.
PDF: pending for this language.