Under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP), fairway development projects funded by the World Bank are being undertaken to achieve a Least Available Depth (LAD) of up to 3.0 meters on critical stretches of National Waterway-1 (NW-1), with ongoing works in areas such as Haldia-Barh and Barh-Ghazipur. Additionally, development efforts are being made on NW-97 in the Sunderbans and Indo-Bangladesh protocol routes to ensure year-round navigability.
Further the government plans to expand Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax services across multiple routes, and has identified 26 new National Waterways to enhance connectivity and offer alternative transportation modes throughout India.
Digital advancements have been a focal point, with the launch of the CAR-D portal for cargo data management and the PANI portal for asset and navigation information. These platforms aim to improve stakeholder collaboration, organizational consistency, and transparency. The government is exploring the expansion of floating jetty projects in Tamil Nadu to enhance coastal infrastructure and connectivity.
