IWAI has significantly upgraded the 1,390 km stretch of National Waterway-1 through fairway development, construction of multimodal and intermodal terminals, modern navigational infrastructure, and over 60 community jetties to support riverine communities.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has marked two major milestones under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) on National Waterway-1, with the transfer of the Kalughat Intermodal Terminal in Bihar to a private operator and the launch of cargo operations at the Haldia Multimodal Terminal (MMT) in West Bengal. These developments signal a strategic push towards integrated, PPP-driven inland water logistics across Eastern India.
The Kalughat Intermodal Terminal (IMT) in Bihar has been formally handed over to Summit Alliance Port East Gateway (India) Pvt. Ltd. (SAPL) for operations and maintenance. Developed with World Bank assistance, the terminal is strategically located in the Saran district and designed to handle diverse cargo, enhancing regional connectivity. Under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, SAPL will manage the terminal on a revenue-sharing basis, with IWAI receiving 38.30 per cent of gross revenue, ensuring commercial viability alongside public interest.
Meanwhile, cargo operations have commenced at the Haldia MMT in West Bengal, operated by IRC Natural Resources Pvt. Ltd. The terminal, with a handling capacity of 3.08 million metric tonnes per annum, began its operational journey with a consignment of granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) from Tata Steel bound for Guwahati in Assam. This marks a significant step in positioning inland waterways as a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable logistics corridor between Eastern India and the Northeast.
Sunil Kumar Singh, Chairman In-charge, IWAI, stated, “Transferring Haldia MMT and Kalughat IMT to PPP operators marks a major milestone in optimising terminal operations, improving cargo handling efficiency and ensuring better utilisation of assets. This move aligns with the government’s vision of an integrated multimodal logistics network along National Waterway-1, opening new avenues for trade and economic growth across riverine regions.”
Under JMVP, IWAI has undertaken extensive capacity enhancement across the 1,390 km stretch of NW-1, spanning Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. This includes fairway development, construction of multimodal and intermodal terminals, installation of modern navigational infrastructure, and over 60 community jetties to support local riverine communities.
The transition of Kalughat and Haldia terminals to PPP-based operations reinforces IWAI’s mandate of infrastructure sustainability, operational excellence and seamless cargo movement, strengthening inland water transport as a pillar of India’s integrated logistics strategy.