GMIS - REVIVING VEINS OF INLAND TRADE
Blue Corridors: 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 environmentally 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
Bombay Exhibition Center, Goregaon, Mumbai
AREAS OF DISCUSSION
- Panel I - Green Cargo Corridors: Navigating Growth Through Sustainable Inland Waterways
- Panel II - Cruising Ahead: Positioning India’s Rivers as Corridors of Tourism and Culture
- Panel III – Urban Water Transport System: Bridging the Gaps in Water-Based City Mobility – Policy, Infrastructure, and Innovation
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
| 10:00 – 10:15 | Welcome Address and Presentation Presented by: Shri Sunil Kumar Singh, Chairman (I/C), IWAI |
| 10:15 – 10:20 | Session Briefing Presented by: EY Personnel |
| 10:20 – 13:20 | PANEL DISCUSSIONS |
| 10:20 – 11:20 | Panel-I: Green Cargo Corridors: Navigating Growth Through Sustainable Inland Waterways Discussion Agenda: • Decarbonizing Logistics: Role of inland waterways in reducing carbon footprint across freight corridors. • Smart Terminals & Digital Freight Management: Leveraging tech for real-time cargo tracking and multimodal integration. • Private Sector Participation in Green Infrastructure: PPP models for eco-friendly cargo terminals and vessels. • Reviving Forgotten Waterways: Mapping and restoring underutilized river routes for cargo movement. • Climate Resilience in Waterway Design: Engineering solutions for flood-prone and drought-affected regions. • Circular Economy in Riverine Logistics: Waste-to-value models and sustainable packaging in cargo transport. Session Moderator: E & Y Eminent Panelists: • Shri Sunil Kumar Singh, Chairman (I/C), IWAI • Shri Prem Chandra Maurya, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries • Executive Director, SAIL • Ms. Neha Verma, Director, Ministry of Steel • Shri Pranab Jha, Executive Vice-President, JSW Steel Limited • Capt. Priyaranjan Behera, Vice-President, Ultratech Cement • Shri Pradeep Purohit, Vice-President, Star Cement • Shri Vivek Arya, Rhenus India (P) Limited • Dr Pratibha A, Economic Advisor, Department of Fertiliser • Shri Sagar Rameshrao Kadu, Director, Department for promotion of Industry and Internal Trade Q & A Session |
| 11:20 – 12:20 | Panel-II: Cruising Ahead: Positioning India's Rivers as Corridors of Tourism and Culture Discussion Agenda: • River Heritage Circuits: Curating cultural experiences along Ganga, Brahmaputra, Kerla and Godavari. • Inclusive Cruise Infrastructure: Designing for accessibility, safety, and community engagement. • Green Cruising Technologies: Electric vessels, solar-powered terminals, and zero-discharge policies. • Local Artisans & River Economies: Empowering craftspeople through onboard marketplaces and cultural showcases. • Cruise Bharat Mission: National strategy for branding India as a global river cruise destination. • Immersive River Tourism: AR/VR experiences of historical riverfronts and mythological journeys. Session Moderator: E & Y Eminent Panelists: • Shri Suman Billa, Additional Secretary & Director General, Ministry of Tourism • Shri Adesh Titamare, Deputy Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust • Ms. Niharika Rai, IAS, Secretary, Department of Tourism, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi • Shri Vikas Narwal, Managing Director, IPA • Shri Nand Kishore, IFS, MD, Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation • Shri A.K. Bansal, Chief Engineer (NER and T&L), IWAI • Shri Raj Singh, Chairman, Heritage River Journeys • Shri Sanjay Basu, Chairman, Far Horizon Tours Pvt. Ltd. • Shri Dhruv Kotak, M/s. J.M. Baxi Q & A Session |
| 12:20 – 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: E & Y Eminent Panelists: • Shri Loknath Behera, Managing Director, KMRL • Shri R. Lakshmanan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways • Shri Ashutosh Gautam, Member Technical, IWAI • Shri Kuldip Narayan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs • Shri Sanya Chhabra, IAS, Managing Director, Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation Limited (UPSTDC) • Ms. Susmita Kakti, Director, Inland Water Transport, Government of Assam • Prof. K. Murli, Dean (Faculty), Department of Ocean Engineering IIT Madras, Chennai • Shri Deepak Sabhlok, Chief General Manager, IPRCL Q & A Session |
| 13:20 – 13:30 | Concluding Remarks and Vote of Thanks by IWAI Official |
SPOC Details:
IWAI SPOC- Shri A.K. Bansal
EY SPOC- Shri Amit Gupta
Contact- 9868110310
