What does IWAI regulate and why is it a public authority under the RTI Act?

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) was established under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985. It is the statutory body under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways responsible for the development, maintenance, and regulation of National Waterways in India. IWAI's mandate covers vessel registration on National Waterways, issuance of cargo transport permits, construction and maintenance of navigational infrastructure (fairways, terminals, jetties, navigational aids), development and execution of projects such as the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) funded partly by the World Bank, and regulation of ferry and passenger services on National Waterways. Because IWAI is a statutory authority established by an Act of Parliament, funded substantially from the Consolidated Fund of India, and discharges a public regulatory and development function, it is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Citizens can file RTI applications with IWAI's CPIO to obtain any information held by or under the control of IWAI.

Can RTI help me track the status of a vessel registration application I submitted to IWAI?

Yes. If you have submitted a vessel registration application to IWAI and have not received a decision within a reasonable time, RTI under Section 6 of the RTI Act is an effective tool to obtain the current status. In your RTI application, ask for: (a) the date on which your vessel registration application (reference your vessel name or application number) was received by IWAI; (b) the current processing status as on the date of the RTI application; (c) the prescribed processing time for vessel registration applications under IWAI's internal guidelines or the relevant regulations; and (d) if the application is pending beyond the prescribed period, the reason for delay and the name and designation of the officer responsible for processing. IWAI is required to respond within 30 days under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act. The CPIO at IWAI's Noida headquarters holds the central vessel register, but if your vessel is registered through a regional office, you may direct the RTI to the CPIO at the relevant regional office.

Is Jal Marg Vikas Project data accessible through RTI?

Yes, and RTI is one of the most effective tools for tracking the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) — the flagship Rs 5,369 crore (approximately) project on National Waterway 1 (Ganga) between Varanasi and Haldia, developed with World Bank assistance. IWAI is the project implementing agency. Since IWAI is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, all project records it holds — including physical and financial progress reports, component-wise expenditure statements, construction timelines, dredging progress, terminal development status, and documents related to World Bank disbursements managed by IWAI — are accessible under RTI. You can ask for percentage completion of specific components (multi-modal terminals, fairway development, navigational aids), the revised cost estimates if any, and contractor-wise progress. Note that if you seek information held by the World Bank itself or by private contractors directly, those entities may not be public authorities; however, the information that IWAI holds about their performance — reports, inspection records, penalty notices — is accessible.

Can RTI reveal the details of contracts awarded by IWAI for waterway infrastructure development?

Yes. Contracts for waterway infrastructure — dredging contracts, terminal construction contracts, navigational aid installation, ro-ro jetty construction, and bank protection works — are public procurement activities carried out by IWAI using public funds. IWAI is required to proactively disclose contract details under Section 4(1)(b)(xiii) of the RTI Act, but if this information has not been published, a targeted RTI application can obtain: the list of contracts awarded in a specified period, the names of contractors, contract values, tendering method (open competitive tender, limited tender, or single source), dates of award, scheduled completion dates, and current execution status. If you have reason to believe a contract was awarded irregularly — for example, through limited tender without adequate justification, or at inflated rates — RTI can provide the tendering documents (NIT, comparative statement, evaluation report) that allow an independent assessment. Work orders and completion certificates are also obtainable through RTI.

What should I do if IWAI's CPIO denies my RTI application or does not respond within 30 days?

If IWAI's CPIO does not respond within 30 days, or if you receive a response that is incomplete, evasive, or wrongly denies the information, you have two levels of appeal. First Appeal (Section 19(1)): File a written first appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at IWAI — typically a senior officer at IWAI's headquarters in Noida — within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. The FAA is required to decide the appeal within 30 days (extendable to 45 days). Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): If the FAA's decision is absent or unsatisfactory, file a second appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the expiry of the FAA's response period. IWAI is a Central Government statutory body under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, so the second appeal lies exclusively with the CIC — not with any State Information Commission. The CIC also has the power under Section 20 of the RTI Act to impose a penalty of up to Rs 25,000 on a CPIO who has, without reasonable cause, refused to receive an application, failed to provide information within the specified period, or given false or misleading information.

Home/Guides/RTI for IWAI: Inland Waterways, Vessel Registration, Cargo Permits & Jal Marg Vikas

Central Government

RTI for IWAI: Inland Waterways, Vessel Registration, Cargo Permits & Jal Marg Vikas

File RTI with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to access vessel registration records, cargo permit details, Jal Marg Vikas project status, waterway infrastructure contracts, and ferry service operation approvals.

Updated 1 Jun 2026

Quick Facts

MinistryMinistry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

Address RTI ToCentral Public Information Officer, Inland Waterways Authority of India, Noida

Application Fee₹10 under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Free for BPL cardholders.

Response Time30 days (48 hours for life/liberty matters)

File Online Athttps://rtionline.gov.in

All information on this page is based on the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) and the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First Appeal: Section 19(1). Second Appeal to CIC/SIC: Section 19(3).

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is the statutory authority established under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985, and operates under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. IWAI is responsible for the development, maintenance, and regulation of National Waterways across India — a network that spans rivers, estuaries, backwaters, and canals notified under the National Waterways Act, 2016. Its functions include vessel registration, issuance of cargo transport permits, construction and maintenance of navigational infrastructure, development of inland water transport terminals, and execution of landmark projects such as the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) on National Waterway 1.

As a statutory body funded substantially by the Central Government, IWAI is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. This means that any citizen can file an RTI application with IWAI's Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) to obtain records, reports, and documents that IWAI holds — including vessel registration data, cargo permit details, project progress reports, contract documents, and ferry service approvals.

What IWAI Regulates and Why RTI Matters

India has a rapidly expanding inland waterways network. As of 2024, 111 National Waterways have been declared under the National Waterways Act, 2016, though only a subset are currently operational or under active development. The stakes involved — in terms of public investment, environmental impact, and commercial operations — make IWAI one of the most important Central Government bodies for RTI purposes.

Vessel registration: IWAI maintains the register of vessels operating on National Waterways. Owners of mechanically propelled vessels above a specified gross tonnage must register their vessels with IWAI. RTI can retrieve the registration status of any vessel, record of encumbrances, and the progress of a pending registration application.

Cargo permits and licences: Commercial cargo operators on National Waterways require permits from IWAI. These permits regulate the type of cargo, route, vessel specifications, and safety compliance. RTI can reveal the number, scope, and beneficiaries of permits issued on specific waterways, and the criteria applied for their grant.

Jal Marg Vikas Project: The JMVP is IWAI's flagship capacity augmentation project on National Waterway 1 (Ganga) between Varanasi and Haldia, covering approximately 1,390 km. With World Bank co-financing and a total project cost exceeding Rs 5,000 crore, it involves channel development, multi-modal terminals, ro-ro jetties, and navigational aid modernisation. RTI is an effective instrument to track JMVP's physical and financial progress, understand delays, and scrutinise contractor performance.

Infrastructure contracts: IWAI awards substantial civil works contracts — for dredging, terminal construction, bank protection, and navigational aids — funded from the national budget and external aid. These are public procurement activities that citizens can examine through RTI.

Ferry and passenger services: IWAI regulates and grants concessions for ferry services on National Waterways, which serve as critical connectivity links in several states. RTI can reveal which operators hold licences, their authorised routes, and whether any concession was revoked or lapsed.

How to File RTI with IWAI

IWAI is listed on rtionline.gov.in under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Filing an RTI with IWAI involves the following steps:

Visit rtionline.gov.in and log in or create an account
Select Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways → Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
Draft your application with specific details — vessel registration number, waterway name, financial year, contract reference, or any other identifier that allows IWAI to locate the records
Pay the application fee of ₹10 online. BPL cardholders are exempt from the fee upon submission of a copy of the BPL card
Submit and note the registration number for tracking

Tip on regional offices: IWAI has regional offices at Patna, Kolkata, Kochi, and Guwahati, among others. If your query relates specifically to operations on a particular waterway in a region — such as vessel registrations on the Brahmaputra (NW-2) or the West Coast Canal (NW-3) — you may also address the RTI to the CPIO at the relevant regional office. For policy-level information, major project data (JMVP), or national-level contract records, the CPIO at IWAI headquarters in Noida is the appropriate addressee.

What Specific Information Can You Ask For?

RTI to IWAI is most effective when the request is precise. The following categories of information are regularly accessible:

Vessel registration records:

Current status of a vessel (registered, pending, cancelled, or suspended) with full registration particulars
Whether any hypothecation or encumbrance is recorded against a vessel
Status of a pending registration application and the reason for delay, if any

Cargo permits:

Number and category of cargo transport permits issued on a specific National Waterway in a given financial year
Names of permit holders, permitted cargo types, and validity periods
Criteria and procedure for grant or renewal of cargo permits

Jal Marg Vikas Project:

Component-wise physical and financial progress (fairway, terminals, ro-ro jetties, navigational aids)
Revised cost estimates and the reason for any cost revision
Contractor performance status and penalty or incentive records

Infrastructure contracts:

List of contracts awarded in a financial year — waterway, contractor, contract value, date of award, completion schedule
Tendering mode used (open/limited/single source) and justification for non-open tendering
Status of contracts past their scheduled completion date

Ferry service operations:

List of ferry concessions or operating licences on a specified waterway — operator, route, capacity, validity
Grant procedure and eligibility criteria for ferry concessions
Revocations or non-renewals in recent years and reasons recorded

Master plan and policy documents:

IWAI's current National Waterway development master plan
List of all 111 declared National Waterways with their current operational/development status
Any revised long-term plan prepared after 2020

RTI Act Provisions You Should Know

When filing RTI with IWAI, the following provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2005 are directly relevant:

Section 2(h) — IWAI is a public authority (statutory body established by Parliament, substantially funded by the Central Government)
Section 6 — Your RTI application must be submitted in writing (online via rtionline.gov.in or by post) to the CPIO
Section 7(1) — IWAI's CPIO must provide the requested information within 30 days of receipt of the application
Section 7(1) proviso — Where the information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, it must be provided within 48 hours
Section 19(1) — If you do not receive a response or are dissatisfied, file a First Appeal with IWAI's First Appellate Authority within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable
Section 19(3) — File a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days if the First Appeal is unsatisfactory
Section 20 — The CIC may impose a penalty of up to Rs 25,000 on the CPIO for unjustified refusal, delay, or false/misleading information

Appeals: First Appeal and Second Appeal

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): Address the First Appellate Authority at IWAI's headquarters, Noida. File within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. The FAA must decide within 30 days (extendable to 45 days with reasons).

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): IWAI is a Central Government statutory body under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The second appeal lies exclusively with the Central Information Commission (CIC) — not with any State Information Commission, regardless of which waterway or state the matter relates to. The second appeal must be filed within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the expiry of the FAA's response period.

The fee is ₹10 under the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. BPL cardholders are fully exempt from paying the fee. No fee is charged at the First Appeal or Second Appeal stage.

Sample RTI Application Draft

To,
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI),
A-13, Sector 1, Noida – 201 301,
Uttar Pradesh

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — [Vessel Registration / Cargo Permit / Jal Marg Vikas Project / Infrastructure Contract / Ferry Service / Waterway Master Plan — select as applicable]

Sir/Madam,

I, [Your Full Name], residing at [Your Full Address], submit this application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, to seek the following information from the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI):

Reference details (if applicable):
  Vessel Registration Number (if enquiring about a specific vessel): [XXXXXXXXXX]
  National Waterway Number / Name: [e.g., NW-1 (Ganga) / NW-2 (Brahmaputra) / NW-3 (West Coast Canal)]
  Contract / Tender Reference Number (if known): [XXXXXXXXXX]
  Financial Year / Period: [e.g., FY 2024-25]

Information sought:

1. Vessel registration status and details:
   (a) Current registration status of vessel bearing Registration Number [XXXXXXXXXX] — whether registered, suspended, cancelled, or pending renewal — along with the date of registration, vessel class, type, gross tonnage, and the name of the registered owner;
   (b) Whether any endorsements, encumbrances, hypothecation, or charges are recorded against the above vessel in IWAI's register;
   (c) Complete record of the vessel registration application submitted on or around [DD/MM/YYYY] for vessel [XXXXXXXXXX] — date of receipt, status as on the date of this RTI application, and if pending, the reason for delay beyond the prescribed processing period.

2. Cargo permits issued on National Waterway 1 (Ganga) in FY 2024-25:
   (a) Total number of cargo transport permits / consents issued on National Waterway 1 (Ganga) during the financial year 2024-25, category-wise (bulk cargo, container, liquid cargo, hazardous goods, etc.);
   (b) Names of entities to whom cargo transport permits were issued on NW-1 during FY 2024-25 and the validity period of each permit;
   (c) The criteria and procedure followed by IWAI for granting cargo transport permits on National Waterway 1, including the applicable guidelines or regulations under which such permits are issued.

3. Jal Marg Vikas Project Phase II — progress and expenditure:
   (a) Physical and financial progress report of the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) Phase II as on the date of this RTI application — work completed, work in progress, and work yet to commence, with percentage completion against the sanctioned scope;
   (b) Total sanctioned cost of JMVP Phase II and the actual expenditure incurred as on the date of this RTI application, broken down by major component (channel development, terminals, navigational aids, ro-ro jetties, etc.);
   (c) Whether JMVP Phase II is progressing as per the approved timeline and, if not, the reasons for delay and the revised completion schedule.

4. Waterway infrastructure development contracts awarded in FY 2024-25:
   (a) List of all infrastructure development contracts (civil works, dredging, terminal construction, navigational aid installation) awarded on National Waterways during FY 2024-25 — name of project, National Waterway number, name of contractor, contract value, date of award, and scheduled completion date;
   (b) Whether any of the contracts listed above were awarded through limited or single-source procurement rather than open competitive tender — and if so, the justification recorded;
   (c) Status of contract execution as on the date of this RTI application for any contracts where the scheduled completion date has already passed.

5. Ferry service concessions and permits on a specific waterway:
   (a) List of ferry service concessions, permissions, or operating licences granted by IWAI for [National Waterway Number / Name, e.g., NW-1 or Brahmaputra River stretch] — names of operators, route covered, validity period, and passenger/cargo capacity authorised;
   (b) Procedure and eligibility criteria prescribed by IWAI for grant of ferry service concessions or operating permits on National Waterways;
   (c) Whether any ferry service concession on [NW name] was revoked, suspended, or not renewed in the last three financial years — and if so, the reasons recorded.

6. IWAI master plan for National Waterway development:
   (a) A copy of (or access to) IWAI's current master plan or long-term development plan for National Waterways — the document that sets out the vision, prioritised waterways, investment plan, and timelines for waterway development across India;
   (b) Whether any updated or revised master plan has been prepared after 2020 and, if so, its approval status and whether it is publicly available;
   (c) The current list of all declared National Waterways (as notified under the National Waterways Act, 2016) along with their current operational / development status as classified by IWAI.

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 [via online payment on rtionline.gov.in; Reference No.: [Payment Ref]].

I request the above information within 30 days as required under Section 7(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Complete Address]
Phone: [Your 10-digit Mobile Number]
Email: [[email protected]]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Replace all text in [square brackets] with your actual details before filing. Do not include the brackets in your submission.

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