GMIS - REVIVING VEINS OF INLAND TRADE

Unlocking Economic Vitality through Inland Waterways India’s inland waterways offer a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional freight transport. This session will explore strategies to revitalize riverine logistics, integrate inland routes into national supply chains, and promote environment friendly cargo movement. Discussions will focus on infrastructure development, multimodal linkages, and policy support to unlock the full potential of blue corridors. By reconnecting historic trade routes and enhancing regional connectivity, inland waterways can play a pivotal role in reducing logistics costs and driving inclusive economic growth.

28th October 2025

10:00 AM - 01:30 PM

Hall No. 4, Bombay Exhibition Center, Goregaon, Mumbai

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AREAS OF DISCUSSION

Session I - Navigating Growth: Inland Waterways in the forefront of Future Transport and Logistics
Session II - Cruising Ahead: Positioning India’s Rivers as Corridors of Tourism and Culture
Session III – Urban Water Transport System: Bridging the Gaps in Water-Based City Mobility – Policy, Infrastructure, and Innovation

Time	Description
10:00 – 10:05	Welcome and Felicitation of the Dignitaries
10:05 – 10:10	Welcome Address by Shri. Sunil Kumar Singh, Chairman (I/C), IWAI
10:10 – 10:15	Address by Shri. Vijay Kumar, Secretary, MoPSW
10:15 – 10:20	Address by Shri. Shantanu Thakur, Hon’ble Minister of State, MoPSW
10:20 – 10:35	Address by Shri. Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minister, MoPSW
10:35 – 10:45	MoU Exchange
10:45 – 13:25	PANEL DISCUSSIONS
10:45 – 10:50	Session Briefing Presented by Shri. Amit Gupta, Partner, EY
10:50 – 11:35	Panel-I: Navigating Growth: Inland Waterways in the forefront of Future Transport and Logistics Discussion Agenda: • Coastal-Inland Connectivity & Multimodal Integration: Strengthening transshipment links and developing strategic multimodal nodes for seamless cargo flow. • Long-Haul Cargo Movement & Cost Competitiveness: Positioning IWT as a viable alternative for long-distance bulk transport and evaluating its freight economics over road and rail. • Operational Efficiencies: Addressing challenges like draft limitations, seasonal navigability, and promoting uniform vessel design for optimized operations. • Policy, Regulation & Industry Adoption: Advancing regulatory frameworks, streamlining customs processes, and accelerating modal shift of bulk cargo to IWT. • Technology, Sustainability & PPPs: Integrating smart logistics solutions, promoting low-carbon freight corridors, and leveraging public-private partnerships for green infrastructure. • Revival of Waterways & Circular Economy: Mapping and rejuvenating underutilized river routes while implementing sustainable, waste-to-value models in riverine logistics. Session Moderator: Shri. Amit Gupta, Partner, EY Eminent Panelists: 1. Smt. Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha & Additional charge of Commerce & Transport Department 2. Shri Sunil Kumar Singh, Chairman (I/C), IWAI 3. Mr. Harrie de Leijer, Partner, Nestra, Netherlands 4. Shri Pranab Jha, Executive Vice-President, JSW Steel Limited 5. Capt. Priyaranjan Behera, AVP, Ultratech Ports & Shipping 6. Shri. Pradeep Purohit, Chief Operating Officer, Star Cement 7. Shri. Vivek Arya, Regional CEO – India, Rhenus Logistics 8. Shri. Rajnesh Gogoi, Managing Director, Assam Petrochemicals Ltd Q & A Session
11:35 – 11:40	Presentation by Ms. Tanya Chandra: Legal framework under the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025 for integration of coastal & inland waterways.
11:40 – 12:30	Panel-II: Cruising Ahead: Positioning India’s Rivers as Corridors of Tourism and Culture Discussion Agenda: 1. River Heritage Circuits: Cultural experiences along Ganga, Brahmaputra, Narmada, and Godavari, Yamuna, Kerala, J&K, Himachal. 2. Inclusive Cruise Infrastructure: Designing for accessibility, safety, and community engagement. 3. Green Cruising Technologies: Electric vessels, solar-powered terminals, and zero-discharge policies. 4. Local Artisans & River Economies: Empowering craftspeople through onboard marketplaces and cultural showcases. 5. Cruise Bharat Mission: National strategy for branding India as a global river cruise destination. 6. Immersive River Tourism: AR/VR experiences of historical riverfronts and mythological journeys. Session Moderator: Shri. Waliul Islam, Partner, EY Eminent Panelists: 1. Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan, Ex-Secretary, MoPSW, Member (T), NCLT 2. Shri. Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, IAS, Principal Secretary to the Govt. of Assam, Transport Department 3. Shri. Venkatramana R. Hegde, Addl.D.G (R&A), Ministry of Tourism 4. Shri. Deepak Sabhlok, Group General Manager, IPRCL 5. Shri. A. K. Bansal, Chief Engineer (NER and T&L), IWAI 6. Shri. Raj Singh, Founder & Chairman, Antara River Cruises 7. Shri. Sanjay Basu, Chairman, Far Horizon Tours Pvt. Ltd. and Adventure Resorts & Cruises Pvt. Ltd. 8. Shri. Vikas Malaviya, CEO, Founder Director, Alaknanda Cruiseline Ltd, Varanasi Q & A Session
12:30 – 13:20	Panel-III: Urban Water Transport System: Bridging the Gaps in Water-Based City Mobility – Policy, Infrastructure, and Innovation Discussion Agenda: • Water Metros as Urban Mobility Catalysts: Lessons from Kochi and scaling to other cities. • Unified Ticketing & Multimodal Integration: Seamless travel across water, metro, bus, and e-mobility. • Eco-sensitive Urban Waterways: Balancing infrastructure with biodiversity and river health. • AI in Urban Ferry Operations: Predictive scheduling, crowd management and route optimization. • Skilling for Urban Water Mobility: Training programs for pilots, engineers, and hospitality staff. • Urban Cargo Corridors: Using city waterways for last-mile delivery and decongesting roads. Session Moderator: Smt. Kalpa Baid, Director, EY Eminent Panelists: 1. Shri Ashutosh Dwivedi, IAS, The State Transport Commissioner, Bihar 2. Shri. Loknath Behera, Managing Director, Kochi Metro Rail Limited 3. Prof. K Murali, Dean (Faculty), Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras, Chennai 4. Shri. Arnab Bandyopadhyay, Lead Transport Specialist, World Bank 5. Mr. Richard van Liere, Partner, Nestra B.V., Netherlands 6. Col. Gautama Dutta, Managing Director, Marinetek India 7. Capt. Devendra Manral, CEO & Director, Indigo Seaways Pvt Ltd, Indigo Seaway Q & A Session
13:25 – 13:30	Concluding Remarks and Vote of Thanks by Shri A K Mishra, CE