UNIT 5 WATER TRANSPORT

Structure
5.0 Objectives
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Water Transport in India
5.2.1 Benefits of Inland Water Transport
5.2.2 National Waterways
5.3 Types of Water Transport
5.3.1 Inland Water Transport
5.3.2 Coastal Shipping

5.3.3 Oceanic Transport

5.4 Prospects & Problems of Water Transport in India
5.4.1 Advantages of Water Transport
5.4.2 Disadvantages of Water Transport
5.5 Inland Waterways Authority of India
5.6 Development of Waterways in India
5.7 Water Transport and Tourism
5.7.1 Rivers
5.7.2 Cruises
5.7.3 Back Waters
5.7.4 Ferry
5.7.5 Boat Rides
5.8 Let us Sum Up
5.9 Answers to ‘Check Your Progress’ Exercises

5.10 Further Readings

5.0 OBJECTIVES

After reading this Unit, you will be able to understand:

 the need for water transport in India
 important types of water transports operating in India
 roles and functions of Inland Water Transport Authority (IWTA) in India
 role and important issues related to the development of waterways in India
 linkages between water transport and tourism

5.1 INTRODUCTION

Transportation is one of the most important activities for the movement of people as well as goods
from one place to another. Today there are different modes of transportation which include Rail,
Road, Air, Water, Cable, Pipeline, and Hyperloop. In the olden period, the means of transportation
consisted of walking, running, and swimming. With the due course of time,the domestication of
animals introduced new ways of transportation for humans to travel and carry goods from one place
to another. The invention of wheels gave further development to transportation and the domesticated
animals were more efficiently used for transportation. Rapid globalization has paved the way for the
vast expansion of transportation in all forms. With the expansion in transportation, trade, and
commerce across the intra-regional, regional, national, and international borders were opened for free
trade and tourism activities for direct economic gains to the host country.

The history of water transportation goes backs to thousands of years. Because it is observed that
water is the most precious thing that mankind needs to survive.All civilizations were settled in the
banks of the rivers and water transport became the key mode of travel. Waterways were critically
important for the transportation of people and goods during the ancient medieval, and modern
periods. Initially, trade and commerce were flourished by the water transport networks worldwide.
From bamboo rafts, frame boats, wooden boats, Catamarans, junks, and clipper ships to luxury cruise
liners, water transport has come a long way to transport people and goods safely and economically.

In the previous chapter of Tourism Undertaking, you have already learned in Unit 18 of the BTME-
138 (Unit-4 Air Transport) course. You have also been briefed about different modes of
transportation. Thus, in this Unit, some of the important aspects of “Water Transport” have been
presented and explained with examples. This unit includes water transport in India, different types of
water transport, the major problems and prospects of water transport in India, roles of IWTA,
development of waterways in India, and contribution of water transportation to tourism. This Unit
will also highlight the role of different water bodies in the promotion of tourism activities.

5.2 WATER TRANSPORT IN INDIA

India is blessed with a variety of navigable waterways comprising of different river systems, canals,
backwaters, creeks, and tidal inlets that extend to about 14,500 km including about5600 km for
navigation by mechanized vessels. The navigable waterways are confined to a few states and
strategic locations. The Inland Water Transport (IWT) is functionally important in regions covered
by the Brahmaputra and the Ganges in the North-East and Eastern parts of the country, Kerala, Goa,
and in the deltas of the rivers of Krishna and Godavari. The IWT has an important role to play in
many parts of the country since it offers an economical, energy-efficient, employment-intensive, and
almost pollutant-free mode of transport service.

5.2.1 Benefits of Inland Water Transport

The IWT is recognized around the world as a fuel-efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly mode of
transport, especially for the supply or transportation of bulk goods, hazardous goods, and big cargo.
The enormous socio-economic and environmental advantages of the IWT mode of transportation
over other modes such as rail and road are as follows: -

1. Inland water transport system makes raw material available to manufacturers and producers.

2. It also makes goods available for customers.

3. It enhances the standard of living.

4. Inland water transport enhances large-scale production at a low cost.

5. It helps during emergencies and natural calamities.

6. It helps in the creation of employment.

7. It helps in labour mobility.

8. It helps in bringing nations together and promoting universal peace.

9. It saves the cost of the mode of transportation.

10. It consumes less energy as compared to other forms of transportation.

11. It reduces the pressures of other modes of transportation especially rail, and road
12. It reduces congestions, and accidents on roads
5.2.2 National Water Ways:

Out of about 5600 km of waterways for navigation, 4382 km of inland waterways have been declared
as National Waterways (NWs). The development and regulation of waterways are not declared as the
national waterways remain under the domain of the respective State Governments to develop
waterways. Thus, a National Waterway was created by an Act of Parliament to resolved longstanding
border issues. Given the large network of Inland Waterways in India, there is a vast potential inIWT
to act as an alternate and supplementary mode of transportation. However, in the last 30 years, as
many as six national waterways have been declared to facilitate water transport in India. Importantly,
India has also developed an extensive network of inland waterways in the form of rivers, canals,
backwaters, and creeks. Out of the total navigable length of 20,236 km, 17,980 km of the river, and
2,256 km of canals can be used by mechanized crafts. In addition, freight transportation by
waterways is highly under-utilized in the country as compared to countries and regions like the
United States, China, and the European Union.

The national waterways in India have become the lifeline of the country. Not only will these serve
the transportation obligations of our nation, but also will serve as recreational centres. The Ministry
of Shipping, Govt. of India has directed the IWAI to identify the viable waterways in India for
phased development. Accordingly, 106 new waterways have been identified by the IWAI and the
same has been intimated to the MoS. In this regard, the National Waterways Act, 2016 was published
in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section I dated 26th March 2016 as an Act No. 17 of
2016. Besides, the National Waterways (NW) -97 is under survey to be called as Sundarbans Water
Ways. Table 5.1 presents details about the National Waterways System in India

Table-5.1: National Waterways System in India

NW Waterway Stretch Length(Km) Declared in Year
NW-1 Ganga-Bhagirathi- 1620km 1986
Hooghly river system
(Allahabad-Haldia) in
the States of Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar,
Jharkhand and West
 Bengal
NW-2 River Brahmaputra 891km 1988
(Dhubri-Sadiya) in the
State of Assam
NW-3 West Coast Canal 205km 1993
(Kottapuram-Kollam)
along with
Udyogmandal and
Champakara Canals –
in the State of Kerala
NW-4 Kakinada- Puducherry 1078km 2008
canals along with
Godavari and Krishna
rivers– in the States of
Andhra Pradesh,
Tamil Nadu and Union
territory of
Puducherry.
 NW-5 East Coast Canal 588km 2008
integrated with
Brahmani river and
Mahanadi delta rivers
in the States of West
Bengal and Odisha
NW-16 Lakhipur-Bhanga 121km 2016
Stretch Transportation
of cargo to North
Eastern Region in
Barak River

Source: http://www.iwai.nic.in/waterways/new-waterways/nw-97

Check your Progress 1

1. Highlight some of the important benefits of Inland Water Transport.

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2. What are the major National Waterways system in India

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5.3 TYPES OF WATER TRANSPORT

Water transport refers to the movement of goods and passengers on waterways by using various
means like boats, steamers, launches, ships, etc. With the help of these means, goods and
passengers are carried to different places, both within as well as outside the country. Within the
country, rivers and canals facilitate the movement of boats, launches, etc. Since the goods and
passengers move inside the country, this type of transport is called inland water transport. When
the different means of transport are used to carry goods and passengers on the sea route it is
termed as ocean transport.

5.3.1 Inland Water Transport

Inland water transport uses boats, launches, barges, streamers, etc., to carry goods and passengers on the
river and canal routes. These routes are called inland waterways and are used indomestic or home trade to
carry bulky goods. Passenger transport through waterways is not so popular in our country. Inland water
transport system exists only in few states like West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, etc.

5.3.2 Coastal Shipping

In this transport, ships ply between the main ports of a country. This helps in domestic trade, and
also in carrying passengers within the country.

5.3.3 Oceanic Transport

In this transport, ships ply between different countries separated by sea or ocean. It is mainly used
for the promotion and development of international trade. It is economical means of transport to
carry heavy machines and goods in bulk. Overseas transport is carried out on fixed or identified
routes, which connect almost all the countries. In ocean transport, different types of ships are used
to carry passengers and goods. These may be classified as under: -

a. Liners - A liner is a passenger or cargo vessel, which belongs to a regular shipping

company. These ships ply over a fixed route according to a prescribed timetable or schedule.

b. Tramps - A tramp is a cargo ship, which does not make regular trips but plies
whenever cargo is loaded to it. It does not follow a fixed route or prescribed timetable, unlike the
liners.Figure-5.1 presents types of water transport systems.
Figure-5.1: Types of Water Transport

INLAND WATER
OCEANIC
TRANSPORT
TRANSPORT
COASTAL
SHIPPING

COASTAL OVERSEAS
SHIPPING SHIPPING
5.4 PROSPECTS & PROBLEMS OF WATER TRANSPORT IN INDIA

Due to very little investment made so far on the development of waterways compared to other
countries globally and the road and rail modes in India, the IWT mode has remained
underdeveloped and its share in overall internal cargo transport remains awfully low. The IWT
sector presently has a meager modal share of 0.4 per cent in India as compared to 42 per cent in
the Netherlands, 8.7 per cent in China, and over 8 per cent in the USA. This is partly because of
the inability to shift cargo between modes of transport without disruption. The seasonality of
water flows in many of the monsoon-fed river systems poses the most formidable hurdle,
particularly for moving around high-capacity barges. It may require extensive dredging besides
the construction of barrages to hold part of the surplus monsoon water for release during the lean
season to maintain the minimum water depth and flow needed for navigation.

Higher water salinity, especially in the coastal regions and estuaries, the constant inflow of silt
in the rivers can also be problematic. Besides, to be viable, the water transport projects will need
to have adequate and assured two-way commodity traffic. Such traffic, notably in bulk goods,
like coal, minerals, food grain, and fertilizer is usually unidirectional, requiring the vessels to
return empty or under-loaded. This affects the profitability of these ventures. These problems
need to be attended to at the government level as the development of infrastructure may resolve
the problem.

5.4.1 Advantages of Water Transport

The IWTcan be operated with less fuel leading to make the operation of a cost-effective and
environment-friendly mode of transport, especially for bulk goods, hazardous goods, and over-
dimensional cargos. It also reduces time, cost of transportation of goods and cargos, congestion,
and accidents on highways. They are expected to help create seamless interconnectivity
connecting hinterlands along navigable river coasts and coastal routes. This is a fundamental
alteration in the logistics scenario of the countryThe IWT will play a pivotal role in connecting
the north-eastern states to the mainland. Major advantages of water transport are: -
1. It represents a ready-built infrastructure network, which can be utilized without any further
capital investment.

2. The network requires no greenfield investment but needs the only capex for
improvement/upgradation.

3. Waterways can decongest roads, including highways by moving cargo away.

4. Waterways do not involve challenges associated with land acquisition, which has always
been a sensitive issue, causing time and cost overruns of numerous projects.

5. The significant investment which India needs to build its roads/highways infrastructure
network can be conserved through increased utilization of the waterways.

6.User charges can be levied to meet the expenses on maintenance of the waterways.

7.Waterways are a cheaper mode of transportation vis-à-vis the available alternatives,

significantly reducing the point-to-point cost of goods transportation.

5.4.2 Disadvantages of Water Transport

1. Inland waterways have low transport speed thus not suitable where time is an important
factor.

2. It has also a limited area of operation, depending on the infrastructural premises and depth
of the waterways.

3.There are also only very few cases in which the IWT can offer door-to-door transport of
cargo.

4.Operational disruptions due to weather is also a major issue.

5. The construction of inland waterways and implementation of the national waterways

network is a big challenge.

4. The channel draft of the national waterways is not uniform at 2 meters throughout the year,
as is required. Some of these rivers are seasonal and do not offer navigability throughout the
year. 5.Around 20 out of the 111 identified national waterways have reportedly been found
unviable.
Further, all the identified waterways require intensive capital and maintenance dredging,
which could be resisted by the local community on environmental grounds, including
displacement fears, thereby posing implementation challenges. Water also has important
competing uses, viz. need for living as well as for irrigation, power generation, etc. It would
not be possible for local government/others to overlook these needs.

5.5 INLAND WATERWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA (IWAI)

Before 1950, there was no proper institutional setup for the development of IWT. A
beginning was made during the First Five-Year Plan when the Ganga-Brahmaputra Water
Transport Board

was set up as a Joint Venture of the Central Government and State Governments of Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam. Subsequently, the Government of India established
the Inland Water Transport Directorate in the Ministry of Shipping and Transport in 1965.
The Ganga-Brahmaputra Water Transport Board was merged with the IWT Directorate in
1967, and the Central Inland Water Transport Corporation Ltd. (CIWTC) was set up at
Kolkata.

In pursuance of the recommendations of the National Transport Policy Committee (NTPC),

the IWAI was set up on 27 October 1986 by an Act of Parliamentat Noida as its
headquarters. The IWAI Act, 1985 was also enacted for the development, maintenance, and
regulation of National Waterways for shipping and navigation in the country. The IWAI
stands forthe development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation.

The Authority primarily undertakes projects for the development and maintenance of IWT
infrastructure on national waterways through the grant received from the Ministry of
Shipping. The Authority has established regional offices at Patna, Kolkata, Guwahati, and
Kochi and sub-offices at Allahabad, Varanasi, Farakka, Sahibganj, Haldia, Swroopganj,
Hemnagar, Dibrugarh, Dhubri, Silchar, Kollam, Bhubaneshwar, and Vijayawada. The
Ministry or IWAI has developed about 14,500 km of navigable waterways comprising rivers,
canals, backwaters, creeks, etc. About 55 million tons of cargo are being moved annually by
the system under the IWT very efficiently and economically.

Its operations are currently restricted to a few stretches in the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly

rivers, the Brahmaputra, the Barak river, the rivers in Goa, the backwaters in Kerala, inland
waters in Mumbai, and the deltaic regions of the Godavari Krishna rivers. Besides these
organized operations by mechanized vessels, country boats of various capacities also operate
in various rivers and canals. A substantial quantum of cargo and passengers are transported in
this unorganized sector as well.

5.6 IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF THE IWAI

i). Conducting surveys and investigations and techno-economic feasibility for

developing inland water transport mode

ii). Development and regulation of National Waterways for shipping and navigation
by providing conservancy measures, river training works, setting up infrastructural facilities,
etc.;

iii). Other connected/subsidiary functions include regulation of traffic, coordination

with other modes of transport for movement on the National Waterways maintenance, etc.

iv). To assist and advise Central and State Governments on matters relating to
Inland Water Transport.

v.) To conduct feasibility study and survey work for new waterways.

vi.) To provide necessary navigational and metrological information.

vii.) To control activities of dumping and removal of bed materials.

Figure-5.2 presents the Institutional and Policy Regime of IWAI.

 Figure-5.2 :Institutional and Policy Regime of IWAI

National Water Ways Act 2016

The Inland Water Transport Policy,2001

RO Kolkota
Inland Waterways
Ministry of
Authority of India RO Patna

Shipping(MoS)
(IWAI)
RO Guwahati
(Apex Organization)
Noida (HQ)
RO Kochi

Funding: MoS, World Bank Loan, Multi National Loans, PPP,

Domestic Loans and Bonds.

5.6 DEVELOPMENT OF WATERWAYS IN INDIA

India has a glorious account of the growth of water navigation. The waterways in backwaters
and canals were extensively used by kings to carry their army personnel, arms, and
ammunition along with other goods during the olden days. The establishment of large towns
on the bank of rivers paved way for trade and commerce as well as pilgrim centres in India. It
was in the year 1823 when the first propelled Craft Diana weighting 89 tonnes sailed with
passengers from Kulpi road to Calcutta covering a distance of 80km on the river Hooghly. In
the year 1834, a regular monthly steamer started service from Calcutta (now Kolkata) to the
station upstream on the Ganga to carry East India Company officials and cargo.

In the year 1842, a regular fortnight service started from Calcutta to Agra on the river
Yamuna. The year 1863 witnessed the commencement of steam-water service between
Calcutta and Assam. Subsequently, a network of water services started developing as far as
Garh to Mukteshwar on the river Ganga in Uttar Pradesh and Ayodhya on the river Ghagra.
However, in the 19th-century navigation by power crafts and country boats played a central
role in establishing trade and commerce on the confluence of river banks.

Between 1876-77, the registered country boat was at its peak. In pursuance of the
recommendation of the National Transport Policy Committee (NTPC) the IWAI was set up
on October 26 1986 by an Act of Parliament in 1985 for the development, maintenance, and
regulation of National Waterways for shipping and navigation in the country. Besides, the
MoS is entitled to the responsibility of the development of water transport in the country. the
IWAI Act was amended to simplify promotion and fiscal incentives providedin
September2001. The Government has recently declared 111 new waterways and these
waterways spread over 24 states in India under the National Water Ways Act 2016 which
came into effect on 12 April 2016 to promote Inland Water Transport in the Country.

The recent project namely Jal Vikas Marg Project (JMVP) has been commissioned at an
estimated cost of Rs.5369.18 crores with support from the world bank. The project is
scheduled to be completed by March 2023.Recently, the Sagarmala Project has been initiated
by the GoI in 2015 to promote “Port-led Development in India”. The project aims to connect
the 7500 km long coastline of the country to tap its economic potential. More than 574
projects with a cost of 6.01lakh Crore have been identified for implementation during 2015-
2035 across the areas of Port Modernization, Port Connectivity, Port Led Industrialization,
Coastal Community Development. The project also aims in promoting tourism in a big way
through the Sagarmala project.

5.7 WATER TRANSPORT AND TOURISM

5.7.1 Rivers

River-based tourism is getting popular owing to its uniqueness and cultural proportion.
Several places of interest with religious and cultural significance are located within and along
the banks of rivers Ganga, Brahmaputra, and other rivers. For example, the Ganga Aarti at
Haridwar, Varanasi, and Patna; the famous yearly cattle and elephant fair at Sonepur (on the
northern banks of Ganga),Chunar (a place of historical importance) near Varanasi, and the
world heritage site of Sundarbans are promoting spiritual, religious, and pilgrimage tourism
directly.

The Ganga River Front Development (GRFD) projects have been sanctioned for the cities of
Begusarai, Buxar, Hajipur, Munger, and Patna. Out of these five cities, only Patna has got an
ongoing project. Initially, as many as 32 towns along the river Ganga in Bihar were selected
for the GRFD,but 20 Ghats have been finally selected for infrastructure feasibility reasons.
Out of the 20 ghats proposed, almost 16 of them have been developed and will be open to the
public for religious and tourism purposes.

The famous cattle and elephant fair at Sonepur aroundNovember every year on the northern
banks of Ganga attracts lakhs of people to the fair to buy and sell agricultural commodities.
Similarly, Bateshwarsthan ghat, Bhagalpur is located 4-5 km from the historical ruins of
Vikramshila and the Vikramshila Dolphin Sanctuary hence acts as a religious and tourist
attraction. The river Brahmaputra is known for its river islands, wildlife sanctuaries, local
handicrafts, migratory birds, and other places of religious significance. At present, the Assam
Bengal Navigation (ABN) and the Mahabaahu and Alfresco Grand organize river cruises in
Assam. Cruises operate from Guwahati to Kaziranga (seven days) and get extended from
Jorhat (seven days).River tourism is being promoted as an integral component of domestic
and inbound tourism. Tourist inflow has improved to a considerable extent due to the river
cruises in Assam. The sector also employs both skilled and unskilled labour and even
engages artists and artisans to display the culture.

5.7.2 Cruises
The cruise industry has become a significant component of the tourism economy. The
development of cruise tourism brings strong power and new trends and important locations
for research on consumer engagement. Cruise tourism, as a new industry produced by the
combination of transportation and tourism, has considerable development space, applying the
relatively new concept of customer experience management to the pre-consumptive stage
within a cruise tourist’s journey.

Cruise Tourism is one of the most dynamic segments of the leisure industry globally. Cruise
Shipping is an important and growing component of the leisure industry worldwide. It
contributes directly and indirectly to the economy of the country concerned. This sector
makes spin-off effects. Besides generating revenue in the form of passenger fares, port
charges, etc., it also promotes many industries like handicrafts, guide services, and catering,
etc., thereby earning foreign exchange for the country.

Cruise lines are partly in the transportation business, and partly in theleisure entertainment
business. Cruise lines are popularly known as floating resorts running through the oceans
and seas from different home ports to various destinations. The cruise line offers various
packages of tours to different parts of the world.

A cruise line is equipped with various entertainment facilities such as casino, swimming
pools, sauna, Jacuzzi, sports facilities, theatre, movies, cafe, live concerts and shows,
shopping complex, library, internet cafe, child care centre, discotheque, bar, pubs, lounges
and many more. Cruise linescan carry more than two thousand passengers and hundreds of
crew members, depending upon the size of the cruise liner.

5.7.3 Cruise Tourism in India

There are distinct potentials for the Indian cruise tourism sector. Domestic and foreign
tourists can be benefited from the cruise tourism to be operated in the identified waterways.

5.7.4 Types of Cruise Ports

With respect to cruise ships, ports may act as a ‘Port of Call’ or as a ‘Home Port’. As a Port
of Call, the port acts as the transit and receiving ports to national and international ships that
touch several destinations as part of their cruise circuit. Tourists who disembark at the port of
visit destinations are either close at hand or may sometimes even fly to distant destinations.
At times, tourists who disembark at a particular port may embark on the ship at some other
port closer to the destination. As a Home Port or Hub Port, the portacts as the base for a
cruise ship to take passengers around a cruise circuit and then come back to the homeport to
berth. Tourists can either ‘fly in’ or ‘drive in’ to the homeports to take their cruise.

5.7.5 Identified Ports for Cruise Tourism in India

India is ranked as the thirty-fourth most popular tourist destination in the world as per the
Travel and Tourism Competitiveness. The country is considered as a preferred cruise
destination. Cruise tourism is given a thrust area andseveral positive measures have been
initiated to promote the cruise industry and position India as a global cruise destination. With
its 7,500 km of coastline, India can promote cruise tourism through 12 major ports and 184
minor ports. To encourage cruise shipping, major ports, managed by the central government
are encouraged to create facilities for cruise shipping.

Since most major ports on the western coast in India meet the requisites of a Port of Call, a
nascent trend of cruise ships calling at Indian ports at regular intervals has started recently in
the cruise industry. This has led to the ports of the western coast of India figuring on the
itineraries of international cruise ships. The Government of India, as part of its cruise tourism
development initiatives, has identified six Indian ports to be developed as ‘world-class cruise
terminals ‘and to be promoted as ‘integrated Indian cruise circuit. These identified Ports
include Mumbai, Goa, Cochin, New Mangalore, Tuticorin, and Chennai.

Mumbai Port

Mumbai has the tourism advantage of beaches, monuments, museums, world heritage sites,
renowned eateries, shopping & entertainment facilities. The metro city is dotted withheritage
buildings famous for their gothic architecture style. This is a reminder of the glorious past of
the city in conjunction with tall skyscrapers indicating its importance in India’s financial
capital. Both domestic and international air connections to other cities within the country and
overseas make it an ideal destination and transit point for passengers and tourists interested in
the cruise experience in the identified regional cruise circuit. A variety of tourist options,
moderate climate, and international standard hotels in a cosmopolitan & safe environment,
make it among the most preferred tourist destinations in the country. Places of tourist interest
in the vicinity include the Gateway of India, Marine Drive (Queen’s Necklace), Elephanta
Caves, CST Station Heritage Building, Home to Bollywood, Indian CinemaIndustry, Juhu
Beach, Chowpatty Beach, Karnala Bird Sanctuary, Harbour cruises, Ajanta &Ellora Caves,
etc.

Goa Port

Major pull factors for cruise tourism in Goa as it is filled with sun, sand & sea along with
lush green countryside, exotic locales, swaying palms, seafood, and architectural splendours
of its churches, convents, and old houses. Key offerings of serenity, relaxation & parties
include a meeting point of religions and cultures of East and West and Goa has a multi-hued,
and distinctive lifestyle unique from the rest of Indiaover the centuries. Visits to the popular
Beaches include Anjuna, Baga, Benaulim, Calangute, Colva, Dona Paula, and other
attractions include churches, temples, and historical places in& around Panaji, Vasco, Forts-
Aguada, Chapora, and Cabo de Rama, and Rivers –Mandovi & Zuari

Cochin Port
Major drivers for cruise tourism from Cochin port includeAyurveda & yoga, rejuvenation
therapies, spices & seafood, lagoons & backwaters(Alleppey& Kumargaoms), hill
stations(Munnar), wildlife ( Periyar National Park), souvenirs &artifacts, traditional dance &
art forms. Other key attractions include beaches, churches & synagogues, monuments, local
arts, villages, tea & coffee plantations, dense forests, etc.

New Mangalore Port

The new Mangalore Portis a cruise tourism destination. The port is strategically located to
facilitateexcursion tours to the historical heritage temples at Hampi, Hassan, Halebid, and
Bellur, Karakala giant monolithic statue, pristine green forests, wildlife (Bannerghatta
National Park), hill stations (Kudremukh and Madikeri), paddy fields, virgin beaches,
sandalwood, traditional buffalo races, and conventional red-tiled roof houses.

Tuticorin Port

Tuticorin is a strategic port for cruise tourism as it is in proximity to International Sea routes.
There can be excursion tours to Thanjavur, Kanniyakumari and Kancheepuram, and
Kanniyakumari – the southernmost tip of India symbolizing the confluence of the Bay of
Bengal, Indian Ocean, and the Arabian SeaThis is the gateway to South India’s culture and
heritage. There are historical temples, churches, and ancient heritage structures around
Tuticorin, Madurai, andTanjore. Ooty and Kodaikanal are two beautiful hill stationsalong
with Kovalam beach that can also be included in the excursion trip of cruise tourism.

Chennai Port

Chennai port is equipped with all facilities to promote cruise tourism. The city is famously
known for its rich heritage, vibrant social & cultural ethos, variety of cultural and Art forms
along with shopping and entertainment.There can be an excursion trip to Chepauk Palace,
Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, and Kanchipuram, and a three-day trip to the historical and
cultural centres such as Chidambaram, Thanjavur, Trichy, andMadurai. Cruise tourists can
sojourn instar hotels with all international facilities in Chennai and other tourism destinations.

India is blessed with a good number of perennial rivers. While a detailed study can unravelthe
feasibility and potentiality of cruise tours in the famous rivers in India. Thepromotion of river
cruises under the pipeline is presented in Table-5.1.

Table-5.1: Potentials of River Cruise Tours in India

Name of Cruise Tours Name of State

Sundarbans Cruise West Bengal

Brahmaputra Cruise Assam

Ganges Cruise Bihar/West Bengal

Mondovi River Cruise Goa

Srisailam-Nagarjuna Sagar Cruise Andhra Pradesh

 Basar – Rajahmundry – Dholeshwaram cruise Andhra Pradesh

Backwater Cruise Kerala

Cauvery Cruise Karnataka

Some of the river cruises could be linked to adventure activities like rafting, sailing, river
crossing, etc., while certain other river cruises could offer other entertainment elements,
refreshment, pleasure trips, floating restaurants or guest rooms, local sightseeing, nature
watching, safaris across forests, sanctuaries, etc. India has become one of the topmost
destinations for domestic and international cruise tourists. Cruise Tourism is becoming an
increasingly popular leisure choice in India. Cruises, which were at one time considered the
prerogative of the rich, are today fast reaching all classes of tourists. India’s virgin forests,
undisturbed idyllic islands, long historical and cultural tradition of architecture, theatre, and
performing arts, 7,517 km long beautiful coastline, and positioning port have become a
natural advantage to the country to attractinternational cruise lines. India’s positioning in the
South East-Asia region and its proximity tocruise destinations is recognized and is a part of
international cruise circuits.

5.7.3 Backwaters

The renowned backwaters comprise a convoluted network of lakes, estuaries, canals, and
deltas of forty-four rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. The important stretch of this unique
water is the 168 km longstretch from Kollam to Kottapuram, declared as a National
Waterway. As tourism activities started gaining momentum, local country boats have been
converted for sports and leisure activities. Today, the traditional boat (Chundan Vallam) is
used during the annual boat races during the annual harvest festival of Onam. The age-old
cargo boats have been converted into luxury houseboats (known as Kettuvallom in the olden
days) in due course of time.
Country boats are made using sustainable and local materials like jack wood, woven together
with coir (a coarse fiber found on the exterior of a coconut shell), and sealed with fish oil.
The houseboats are usually made of Rose Wood. The boats normally have the longevity of
50-60 years, with the annual application of fish oil. Houseboats are configured with one
bedroom to five bedrooms. Some houseboats provide facilities like restaurants, swimming
pools, ayurvedic massages, and cultural entertainment The backwaters in Kerala comprise
Allapuzha, Kottayam, Trivandrum, Kollam, Kuttanad, Kozhikode, Kasaragod, Cochin. and
Kumarakom.

A network of lakes, rivers, and canals fringe the coast of Kerala is ideal for river cruises.
These backwaters offer an alternative holidaying and vacationing. The crisscrossed and palm-
fringed lakes traversed with Chinese fishing nets are very popular attractions during cruising
in the rivers and lakes, especially between Kollam, and Alappuzha. The backwaters have
become important attractions though they are threatened by population growth and industrial
development. Of the 29 major lakes on the backwaters, seven get drained into the sea.
Stretched over a total expanse of 1500 km, the backwaters have a network of 44 rivers,
lagoons, and lakes from the north to the south part of India. For example, Allapuzha
backwaters are prominent on the tourist map of India for houseboats. With the Arabian Sea
on the west, Alappuzha has a large network of lakes, lagoons, and several freshwater rivers
intersectionsfamously known for boat races, houseboat holidays, beaches, marine products,
and coir industry.

The Dal Lake in Kashmir valley is famous for its houseboats without movement. Houseboats
providecomfortable spaceswith luxurious facilities, amenities, and services for the tourists.
Cruise in the Mandavi river in Goa is an attraction to the tourists. Houseboat operations in
India are presented in Table-5.2.

Table-5.2: Houseboat Operations India

Sl No. Houseboat Operation In India State

 1 Kerala Houseboat Kerala

2 Sundarbans Houseboat West Bengal

3 Udupi Houseboat Karnataka

4 Goa Houseboat Goa

5 Chunnambar Houseboat Puducherry

6 Srinagar Houseboat Kashmir

7 Tarkarli Houseboat Maharashtra

8 Konaseema Houseboat Andhra Pradesh

5.7.4 Ferry

A ferry is a merchant vessel that is used to carry passengers, cargo, and vehicles with
multiple stops across the identified routes in the rivers and seas. Ferry has been recognized
as a public transport system to get a bog facelift under theproject of Sagarmala that will
supportthe modernization of seaports.Popular ferry routes in India are presented in Table-
5.3.

Table 5.3 : Popular Ferry Routes in India.

Sl No From To
1 Mumbai Alibaug
2 Panjim Vasco
3 Port Blair Havelock
4 Jorhat Majuli
5 Satpada Janhikuda
 6 Travancore Cochin
7 Howrah Babu Ghat
8 Dahej Ghogha RORO Ferry Service

5.7.5 Boat Rides

India is dotted with beautiful Lakes, Rivers, and Creeks which are ideal forwater-based
leisure activities for tourists. The local people take advantage of facilities for commutation.
For example,, the Nakki Lake Mount Abu, Rajasthan is the first human-made lake which is
11,000 mt deep. Boating in the Gadisar Lake in Rajasthan is an artificially built reservoir
that offers a mesmerizing view of the city as well as Raghunath Temple. Bedha Ghat on
the banks of the river Narmada in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh is a perfect boating location
for boating. The Dal Lake in Srinagar is one of the iconic destinations for boating and
shikhara rides and the Shalimar Gardens, the Nishat Gardens, and the Hazrat Bal Mosque
can be seen while riding boats. Hogennakal situated in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu
is often called as the Niagra of India is known for its coracle ride.

The Ganga Ghat in Varanasi offers boating during sunrise and sunset. the Ganga Arati
ceremony sitting in the boat is a unique experience of a visit to Varanasi. The Naini lake in
Nainital, Uttarakhand, an eye-shaped lake offers 1938mts long boating. The Loukiopat
Lake in Manipur is a perfect destination for conducting boating amidst nature. The Sukhna
Lake in Chandigarh is a beautiful destination to see migratory birds while boating on the
lake. The Pookode Lake in Wayanad, Kerala with its freshwater nestled with the evergreen
forest and mountain slopes at an altitude of 770 above sea level offers pedal boating
facilities.

Check your Progress 2

1.What are the important functions of IWAI?

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2. What are the different types of Cruise Ports?

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3. Highlight some of the identified Cruise Tourism Ports in India.

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4. Highlight houseboats and boat rides on the backwaters and lakes in India.

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5. Present the vast potentials of river cruises in India.

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5.6 LET US SUM UP

Transportation is an integral part of human life today. People today cannot think of sustaining
and enjoying life without depending on water transportation. In this unit,emphasis is laid
upon the water transport system in India, types of water transport, advantages and
disadvantages of water transport, roles, and functions of IWAI, water transport,and
importance of rivers, cruises, backwaters, ferry’s and boat rides for tourism. You will
understand the need for the expansion and development of water transportation. Water
transportation is considered as one of the cheapest and safest modes of transportation in the
world. India, being a growing economy and with a long coastline that can fully tap the
potentials of water transport network trade as well as tourism activities. The Ministry of
Shipping has taken many new initiatives like the Sagarmala project to boost the water
transport system in a big way in the future. The scenario of water-based tourism will be
changed with the completion of the project.

5.7 ANSWERS TO ‘CHECK YOUR PROGRESS’ EXERCISES

Check your Progress 1

1. See Sub Sec: 5.2.1

2. See Sub Sec: 5.2.2

Check your Progress 2

1. See Sub: 5.5

2. See Sub Sec 5.7.5

5.8 FURTHER READINGS

National Waterways

http://www.iwai.nic.in/waterways/national-waterways/national-waterways-1?id=2523.
New Water Ways

http://www.iwai.nic.in/waterways/new-waterways/106-new-waterways.

National Waterways 97

http://www.iwai.nic.in/waterways/new-waterways/nw-97.

National Inland Water Ways in India: A Strategic Status Report.

https://sruti.org.in/?q=hi/news-media/national-inland-waterways-india-strategic-status-

report.

Indian Ports Association

http://www.ipa.nic.in/.

sagarmala.gov.in.