National Waterway 4 on Krishna River

Muktyal to Vijayawada waterway stretch on River Krishna is part of National Waterway 4 being developed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) . The 82-km inland waterway stretch will be developed as Phase-1 of National Waterway-4 under Sagar Mala project.

Map of National Waterway 4

Mainly used for transportation of cement and construction material for new capital city Amaravati.

National Waterway 4

NW-4 in Andhra Pradesh has total length of 2890 km is proposed to be developed in 3 phases:

  • Phase-1: Muktyala to Vijayawada (Krishna River) (82 Km)
  • Phase-II: Vijayawada to Kakinada (Eluru canal & Kakinada canal) and Rajahmundry to Polavaram stretch of Godavari (233 Km)
  • Phase-III: Commamur Canal, Buckingham canal and balance stretches of Krishna & Godavari Rivers (573km)

Phase 1 of National Waterway 4

  • Three cargo terminals will be built at Muktyala, Ibrahimpatnam and Harishchandrapur.
  • Four Passenger Terminals will be built at Durga Ghat, Bhawani Island, Vedadari, and Amravati.
  • Work is expected to be completed by June, 2019

Significance of NW 4

  • Provide efficient logistics solution to boost economic growth.
  • Facilitate development of new capital city Amravati by transporting substantial construction material.
  • Ro-Ro services will provide intra-city transportation of passengers and vehicles, reducing traffic congestion and pollution and saving transportation cost.
  • Promote tourism and pilgrimage around Vijayawada and Amaravati.

About National Waterways of India

  • National waterways are developed by the central government through the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
  • First national waterways established in India- NW-1,2 & 3 have a combined length of 2,716 km.

What is IWAI?

  • Set up by the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act in 1985
  • Statutory autonomous body for regulating and developing navigation and shipping in the inland waterways.
  • Provided responsibility of development, maintenance, and regulation of national waterways.
  • Central Inland Water Transport Corporation (CIWTC) supports IWT through transportation of cargo via inland waterways and the operation and maintenance of the vessels and waterway terminals.

Examrace Team at Aug 21, 2021