Parliament Question: Waterways Transport in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2206 ANSWERED ON 31.07.2026 WATERWAYS TRANSPORT IN TAMIL NADU

2206. SHRI SELVAM G:

Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: प(cid:517)न, पोत प(cid:303)रवहन और जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ी

(a) whether the Government has undertaken any assessment of the potential for expansion of coastal passenger transport, ferry services and inland water transport in Tamil Nadu during the last three years;

(b) if so, the details of the studies conducted, locations identified and the recommendations made for improving coastal and inland water connectivity in the State;

(c)whether the Government proposes to develop new coastal passenger ferry routes, modern ferry terminals and multimodal water transport infrastructure in Tamil Nadu, if so, the details thereof, district-wise; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to promote safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable water transport, tourism and employment opportunities through such projects in Tamil Nadu? ANSWER MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) & (b) No such study has been conducted by the Government of India.

(c) Under the Sagarmala scheme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

(MoPSW), the following 4 projects worth Rs. 42 crore have been undertaken in the state

of Tamil Nadu: i. Upgradation of Nagapattinam Port infrastructure for the passenger ferry service from Nagapattinam (India) to Kankesanthurai (Sri Lanka) ii. Creation of berthing facilities for the tourist vessels at Agni Theertham iii. Creation of additional berthing facilities for the tourist vessels at Pamban Approaches, Mandapam.

iv. Development of Passenger jetty at Kanyakumari

(d) The details of development of cargo / river cruise tourism planned for five National Waterways in Tamil Nadu are given at Annexure.Annexure Details of development of cargo/river cruise tourism planned for 05 National Waterways

(NWs) in Tamil Nadu:

(a) Buckingham Canal (constituent of NW-4): Jetty for Cargo/River Cruise Tourism

circuits are as follows: i. Mahabalipuram to Ediyur Bridge ii. Cooum River Portion of Buckingham Canal near Marina Beach iii. Pulicat Lake iv. Ennore Port to ETPS for Cargo movement

(b) Bhavani River (NW-20): Jetty for river cruise tourism at Bhavani – Sangameswar Temple.

(c) Kaveri-Kollidam River (NW-55) : Jetty for river cruise tourism near Chidambaram.

(d) Pazhyar River (NW-77) : Jetty near Kanyakumari for river cruise tourism movement.

(e) Ponniyar River (NW-80) : Jetty for river cruise movement. *****