---
title: "Inland waterways freight: Freight on the river. · SSL"
description: "Inland waterway freight in India: 145.5 MT on National Waterways in FY2024-25 (PIB). NW-1 Ganga, NW-2 Brahmaputra and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route."
url: https://safeandsecure.in/modes/waterways/
canonical: https://safeandsecure.in/modes/waterways/
updated: 2026-11-11
lang: en-IN
publisher: Safe & Secure Logistics Private Limited
---

Mode · Inland waterways

# Freight on the river.

Bulk moves on the Ganga and the Brahmaputra, with a truck at each landing.

[WhatsApp our desk](https://wa.me/917506245557?text=Hi%20SSL%2C%20I%20want%20to%20move%20cargo%20by%20waterway.%20From%3A%20___%20To%3A%20___%20Tonnes%3A%20___) [Get a quote](https://safeandsecure.in/ship/quote/)

National Waterways 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 16. India boundary per Survey of India (state layer: DataMeet, CC BY 4.0). Moving marks are illustrative.

- 145.5 MT on National Waterways FY2024-25 · PIB
- +9.34% growth in a year PIB
- 111 waterways declared National Waterways Act, 2016
- 2,660 km Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route IWAI

How it moves

## Link by link

1. Mine / plant SSL
2. To the landing SSL
3. Barge Our desk
4. From the landing SSL
5. Consignee SSL

Barge legs arranged by our desk.

Scale

## Million tonnes a year, by mode

FY2024-25 (million tonnes). Road publishes no national tonnage; it carried 71% of freight in 2020 (NITI Aayog).

1. [Rail (originating loading)](https://safeandsecure.in/modes/rail/) 1,617.4 MT
2. [Major Ports (sea)](https://safeandsecure.in/modes/sea/) 853.6 MT
3. [National Waterways](https://safeandsecure.in/modes/waterways/) 145.5 MT
4. [Airports (air cargo)](https://safeandsecure.in/modes/air/) 3.7 MT

PIB (Railways), MoPSW (ports), PIB (waterways), AAI (air).

Go deeper

## The atlas behind this mode

- [Rivers Every waterway on one map](https://safeandsecure.in/waterways/)
- [NW-1 Ganga Haldia to Prayagraj](https://safeandsecure.in/waterways/nw-1/)
- [NW-2 Brahmaputra Dhubri to Sadiya](https://safeandsecure.in/waterways/nw-2/)

## Frequently asked questions

**What moves on India’s rivers?**

Mostly bulk: coal, iron ore, iron ore fines, sand and fly ash made up over 68% (PIB, FY2024-25).

**Why would I use a waterway?**

For large, steady bulk volumes along the Ganga or Brahmaputra belts, a barge can take trucks off long congested roads. Our desk checks whether it fits your lane.

Sources

- [PIB: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, 15 Apr 2025](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2121940) · FY2024-25
- [IWAI: Indo-Bangladesh Protocol](https://iwai.gov.in/indo-bangladesh-protocol-ibp)

Ask whether the river fits.

Our desk replies on WhatsApp and confirms your price, which we never publish.

[WhatsApp our desk](https://wa.me/917506245557?text=Hi%20SSL%2C%20I%20want%20to%20move%20cargo%20by%20waterway.%20From%3A%20___%20To%3A%20___%20Tonnes%3A%20___) [Get a quote](https://safeandsecure.in/ship/quote/)

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Source: https://safeandsecure.in/modes/waterways/ (the HTML page is the record; this markdown twin was generated from it on 2026-11-11). Publisher: Safe & Secure Logistics Private Limited, https://safeandsecure.in/. Figures and their periods: https://safeandsecure.in/facts/