Question

Explain the major National waterways of India.

Hint:

For exams, it's most important to remember the river and the start/end points for the first two or three waterways: \[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{NW-1: Ganga River (Prayagraj-Haldia)} \\ \bullet & \text{NW-2: Brahmaputra River (Sadiya-Dhubri)} \\ \bullet & \text{NW-3: West Coast Canal (Kollam-Kottapuram)} \\ \end{array}\]

Answer 1

National Waterways are inland water transport routes declared by the Government of India for the movement of vessels. They are crucial for promoting a cheaper and more eco-friendly mode of transportation. Some of the major National Waterways are: 
\[\begin{array}{rl} 1. & \text{National Waterway 1 (NW-1):} \\ \bullet & \text{Route: Runs along the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system.} \\ \bullet & \text{Stretch: Connects Prayagraj (Allahabad) in Uttar Pradesh to Haldia in West Bengal.} \\ \bullet & \text{Length: 1620 km, making it the longest National Waterway in India.} \\ 2. & \text{National Waterway 2 (NW-2):} \\ \bullet & \text{Route: Runs along the Brahmaputra River.} \\ \bullet & \text{Stretch: Connects Sadiya to Dhubri in the state of Assam.} \\ \bullet & \text{Length: 891 km.} \\ 3. & \text{National Waterway 3 (NW-3):} \\ \bullet & \text{Route: Runs along the West Coast Canal system.} \\ \bullet & \text{Stretch: Connects Kollam to Kottapuram in the state of Kerala. It also includes the Champakara and Udyogmandal canals.} \\ \bullet & \text{Length: 205 km.} \\ 4. & \text{National Waterway 4 (NW-4):} \\ \bullet & \text{Route: Connects river systems of Godavari and Krishna along with the Kakinada-Puducherry canals.} \\ \bullet & \text{Stretch: Connects Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh to Puducherry.} \\ \bullet & \text{Length: 1078 km.} \\ \end{array}\]