Approach:

Introduction: Highlight the importance of infrastructure creation for development.

Body: Mention arguments in support of promoting water transport for India’s development.

Mention a few points regarding issues and challenges.

Conclusion: Suggest solutions to tackle challenges to move towards Viksit Bharat.

Answer:

Infrastructure creation be it physical (ports, roads, railways) or social (schools, hospitals) plays a crucial role in economic development by creating a multiplier effect on the economy. It facilitates increased productivity and efficiency, improves basic services’ access as well as attracts investment and promotes socio-economic development.

India, therefore, is focussing on multiple ways of boosting infrastructure generation in the 21st century such as the Bharatmala project for roadways, UDAN project for airport development, Sagarmala for coastal infrastructure development, envisaging new investment models like Lease Development Operate Transfer (LDOT) for certain airports. 

One such initiative is promoting the use of waterways through the development of National Waterways, building infrastructure like jetties and terminals etc.

Significance of developing the use of rivers for water transport for Viksit Bharat:

• Alternative to already crowded road and rail promoting transport for heavier goods with less costs. As per the study by IIT Delhi, water transport can reduce costs by up to 60% compared to road transport for cargo such as coal and fertilisers.
• Connecting water transport to other means via Multimodal transport has the potential to cut down upon logistics costs nearing the world average of 10% from the present 14% boosting exports.
• Water transport is considered more environmentally friendly with lower greenhouse gas emissions per ton-km of cargo fulfilling Panchamrit's target of reducing carbon intensity in the economy.
• Connectivity to hitherto unconnected hinterland hamlets (from roads and rail) can ensure Agri produce reaches main markets and hubs This can ensure inclusive development as well as promote the food processing industry.
• Development of the economy around water transport to promote employment in the infrastructure sector.
• Development of tourism such as through the MV Ganga Vilas cruise upon which foreign tourists are invited to explore spiritual as well as natural heritage can promote India’s soft power strengthening our relations via showcasing our heritage through new means.
• Such developments help promote investments from multiple stakeholders such as easy credits from global financial institutions to create a virtuous cycle of growth, investments and employment.
• Better presence of infrastructure such as water terminals in less connected regions like the Northeast will ensure overcoming challenges of geography like building roads on seismically active mountainous topography. It will ensure the development of the Northeast and boost Act East Policy alongside reducing people’s alienation further to strengthen unity.

However, there are issues and challenges in envisaging the use of water as a means of transport in India such as

• Impact upon aquatic biodiversity through noise pollution by vessels. For example, Gangetic Dolphins.
• limits upon navigability of various rivers like Brahmaputra is navigable only till Dibrugarh,
• seasonal fluctuations in navigation due to dependency on monsoon,
• slower speed compared to railways, problems of siltation in rivers of Ganga basin,

The above challenges need to be dealt with by pollution control vessels and promotion of such standards by regulations, further research in navigation through means of water etc. Multiple dedicated efforts are needed to ensure the completion of ‘Vikasit Bharat ka lakshya’ by 2047, out of water transport can play a significant role when it is streamlined with other objectives.