Jalvahak Scheme: Transforming Cargo Transport Through India’s Inland Waterways

The Jalvahak Scheme is expected to revolutionize cargo transportation across India as it was instituted by the Indian government. The inland waterways of rivers Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Barak were given a thrust as such waterways will help in minimizing road and rail congestion with an eco-friendly and cost-effective goods movement system. It comes with immense benefits for cargo owners and is a crucial development for India’s logistics network.

What is the Jalvahak Scheme?

Under the Jalvahak Scheme, the Government is offering direct incentives to cargo owners for carrying loads over the national waterways of distances above 300 km. Inland Waterways are offering reimbursement to the tune of 35% on the operating cost in terms of transportation of goods through these inland waterways.

This is part of India’s efforts to reduce the burden of road and rail networks as these are often bottlenecks and delayed. In the process, the government will free up the pressure on land-based transportation along with making logistics easier as well as sustainable.

Major Features of the Jalvahak Scheme

The scheme offers incentives to cargo owners to transport goods via inland waterways. The total operating cost incurred by the cargo owners in transporting goods is covered by the scheme, up to 35 percent.

Transportation of more than 300 km: Cargo should be transported more than 300 km to meet the incentive criteria.

It would encourage private participation. It could allow the cargo owners to hire the vessels from the private company, which then in turn would help boost the economy and make inland waterways more widely used.

It is a three-year period scheme but can be further extended if it is said to have been a successful one.

How does the Jalvahak scheme help?

The scheme benefits cargo owners not only in terms of cost-saving but also brings a greener future along with it. Waterways facilitate the transport of goods, lowering fuel consumption and carbon emissions, thus making waterways the sustainable option; besides this, it reduces business logistics costs.

Current Status of Inland Waterways in India

India has a very large inland waterway network. The length of rivers and canals covered is 20,236 km. So far, India has 111 NWs, and the government has been developing the infrastructure along these routes to be suitable for large-scale cargo transport.

Compared to the earlier years, multi-fold traffic along these water ways for transport through it of various kind cargos has been witnessed. For instance, cargo transport via these inland waters happened in mere 18.07 million tons during 2013-14. Since 2023-24, the above figure swelled to 132.89 million tons. It grew multifold more with such increasing importance into logistics and transportation sectors also.

How to Apply for the Jalvahak Scheme

If you are a cargo owner or operator who would like to take advantage of the Jalvahak Scheme, you can do this by applying to the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the main implementing agency. Here is how to do this.

Online Application Procedure

Access IWAI Website: Proceed to the IWAI website, which can be found at www.iwai.nic.in.

Create an account: One first needs to create an account on the portal, which will require a valid email ID and contact number.

Submit relevant documents: All the relevant documents related to business registration and proof of cargo operations as well as ownership of vessel if available.

Application Form: Details of transport route for cargo, distance, and operational costs.

Once all the information needed is keyed in, and all the documents uploaded, your application is submitted for assessment.

Offline application process

If you wish to apply off-line, follow the steps below:

Proceed to the nearest IWAI Regional Office: You can locate the regional offices in each part of India.

Fill up the application form: Obtain the application form from the office and fill it in with all details required.

Supporting Documents: Copies of documents including those showing your business activities, registration of your vessel, and proof of cargo operation.

Submit the form: The documents and duly filled form submitted to IWAI office.

Documents Needed to Get Registered

You are supposed to present so many documents that would allow you to be registered under the Jalvahak Scheme. These are some of the major necessary documents, which are included:

Business Registration Certificate: It shows the legitimacy of your business.

Vessel Ownership/Lease Agreement: If you are going to utilize a vessel, then ownership or a lease agreement from the vessel owner is essential.

Cargo Transport Details: The type of cargo you are transporting, good types, weight, and route.

Previous Transport Operations History: You can use a history of previous cargo transportation operations to prove experience.

Other Relevant Certificates: Other documents concerning your operations, for instance, environmental compliance may also be required.

Advantages of the Jalvahak Scheme

The Jalvahak Scheme aims at making waterway transports more appealing. The following are the significant advantages:

Cost Savings: Maximum reimbursement of 35 percent on operating costs make it a cost-effective solution for owners of cargo.

Eco-Friendly Transport: It promotes India’s commitment towards sustainable development and reduces the emissions generated from road and rail transport.

Reduced Congestion: It relieves pressure on already congested transport networks by moving cargo from roads and railways to waterways.

Improved Trade: Greater cargo movements through waterways will facilitate regional economies, primarily in districts bordering National Waterways.

Challenges and future forecast

Although the Jalvahak Scheme has a huge potential, there are lots of challenges to be dealt with. Most of the infrastructures of waterways need upgradation. Better terminals, jetties, and navigational aids are required. Moreover, some rivers have varying depth that affects transport in certain seasons.

However, the government already has undertaken projects like JMVP and Sagarmala Project to deal with the issues and improve the overall infrastructure.

India plans to shift 200 million tonnes of cargo till 2030 and 500 million tonnes by 2047. If this scheme goes well, it will obviously gain at the cost of the vision designed for the country.

Conclusion on Jalvahak Scheme

This would be one of the first steps toward changing the logistics map of India. It can reduce the cost of transport, make cargo movement much more efficient, and it will help promote sustainability by offering fiscal incentives and encouraging private participation. The scheme will help the cargo owners to shift their goods economically, relieving some pressure on the roads and railways of the country.

Apply now, join this transformational movement if you are a cargo owner who wants to take the benefit of the Jalvahak Scheme, because the future of India’s transport is in the waterways!