River Cruise Transport in Jammu & Kashmir Soon a Reality

Published On: May 24, 2025

In a significant move towards introducing sustainable and efficient transportation in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a high-level meeting to explore the launch of Inland Water Transport (IWT) across the Union Territory’s major river systems.

The meeting, which included the Chairperson of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), was attended by key officials including the Additional Chief Secretary of Jal Shakti Department, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Commissioner Secretary Tourism, Secretary Transport, Secretary PWD, and other senior officers.

Chief Secretary Dulloo highlighted the vast potential of river cruise transport in the region, noting its ecological advantages and its value as an alternative to the increasingly congested road network. He emphasized that the Jhelum, Chenab, and Ravi rivers, which connect multiple districts, offer a strategic opportunity to develop a cost-effective and environmentally friendly transport system.

Dulloo requested technical and infrastructural support from IWAI to accelerate the development of this project. He called for collaborative efforts with the Tourism, Transport, and PWD departments to build essential infrastructure such as terminals and deploy electric cruise vessels.

Representatives from IWAI shared insights from preliminary feasibility surveys conducted on river stretches in J&K. The findings identified viable sections on the Jhelum, Chenab, and Ravi rivers for potential water transport operations. Plans were discussed to introduce electric-powered cruise vessels, each with a capacity of up to 20 passengers, to operate between designated river terminals.

The initiative aligns with the Government of India’s broader policy to promote inland water transport as a comfortable, efficient, and eco-friendly travel alternative.

Chief Secretary Dulloo reiterated the government’s commitment to fast-tracking this initiative, especially considering its potential to boost tourism and improve connectivity in underserved regions. He directed all relevant departments to prepare a coordinated action plan with defined timelines to implement the project at the earliest.