Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: The Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has officially launched plans for a national Water Metro rollout, with Guwahati selected as one of the key cities for the first phase of implementation. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced the development following a high-level project review, confirming that the initiative will initially target Srinagar, Patna, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Prayagraj, and Guwahati. Future expansion plans under Phase II are already being proposed for Tezpur and Dibrugarh in Assam.
To support this expansion, the Ministry has circulated the Draft National Water Metro Policy 2026 for inter-ministerial consultation. This policy aims to create a standardized framework for urban water-based transit across India. By adopting the successful Kochi Water Metro model, the government intends to utilize existing navigable waterways to provide an efficient, sustainable, and modern alternative to traditional road transport. This approach offers significant advantages, including lower capital investment, reduced land acquisition needs, and shorter construction timelines compared to conventional transit infrastructure.
The project emphasizes the use of green technologies, such as electric and hybrid ferry propulsion, to lower operational costs and environmental impact. Minister Sonowal noted that the initiative will prioritize cities with populations exceeding one million, particularly those with high tourism potential or significant traffic congestion. However, these criteria remain flexible for regions where water transit could substantially alleviate urban road density. The new policy also mandates standardized safety protocols and terminal designs while promoting indigenous vessel construction to foster a robust domestic maritime ecosystem.
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