India, Oct 22 : India’s inland waterways are entering a new era of strategic development, with the government pushing to establish a robust network of ship repair and maintenance facilities along key riverine corridors. This initiative, under the Maritime AmritKaal Vision 2047, is designed to strengthen India’s inland vessel ecosystem, reduce reliance on coastal repair hubs, and foster regional economic growth.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has announced operational Ship Repair Facilities (SRFs) in Patna and Varanasi on the Ganga (National Waterway-1), with additional facilities planned at Pandu, Guwahati for the Brahmaputra (NW-2) and Barak (NW-16). These SRFs are equipped to service a wide range of vessels, from cargo carriers to passenger ferries, eliminating the need for long-distance travel to coastal docks and reducing downtime.
The Patna and Varanasi facilities are set to enhance logistics efficiency along the Haldia Varanasi corridor under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP), while the Pandu SRF will serve as a maintenance hub for the Northeast, strengthening trade links with Bangladesh and Bhutan and supporting India’s Act East and Neighbourhood First policies.
These repair hubs are more than service points they represent a strategic decentralisation of maritime infrastructure. With dry docks, workshops, and specialised equipment, the SRFs will support mobile repair teams and smaller floating units, enabling a distributed model of inland vessel maintenance. The initiative also promotes local industry participation, encouraging MSMEs in steel fabrication, marine electrical systems, and logistics, creating jobs and nurturing technical skills among youth.
IWAI’s broader vision integrates these facilities with multi modal terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj, and Haldia, creating a self-sustaining inland shipping ecosystem where vessels can be built, repaired, and maintained locally. Environmental sustainability is also central, with energy-efficient systems, water recycling, and waste management embedded in facility design, aligning with India’s Blue Economy goals.
By operationalising these SRFs, India is laying the foundation for a resilient inland waterway network that supports trade, enhances maritime self reliance, and contributes to its aim of emerging among the top five global maritime nations by 2047. As the India Maritime Week 2025 approaches, the message is clear: inland waterways are now at the forefront of India’s maritime and economic strategy.