A feasibility study report on the development of inland water transport on the Sutlej River in Punjab — National Waterway-98 — is expected to be submitted by May, the Centre informed Parliament.
Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said that the feasibility study for National Waterway-98 (NW-98) is currently underway and the report is expected to be completed by May 2026.
The Sutlej river stretch has been declared as National Waterway-98, extending from the bridge at Sunni in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh to the Harike Barrage in Punjab, passing through Rupnagar district.
The government has sanctioned an amount of ₹2.82 crore to undertake the feasibility study. The study will assess the potential for inland navigation as well as the development of waterway infrastructure such as jetties and terminals. It will also evaluate technical, hydrological and environmental constraints related to the project.
According to the minister, the preparation of the feasibility report is the first step under the objectives of the Maritime India Vision 2030.
He said that further developmental works will be undertaken based on the findings of the feasibility report. The project is expected to benefit the general public, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and farmers, by improving connectivity and creating new avenues for economic activity in the region.