Rajasthan inland port project: IIT Madras DPR, Barmer-Jalore route study advances
Synopsis
A landlocked desert state edging closer to maritime trade: the Barmer-Jalore inland port project has cleared a key milestone with IIT Madras tasked to prepare the DPR for National Waterway-48, and the Bhavatra-Kandla Creek route identified as the most viable alignment. If it moves forward, it could fundamentally redraw western Rajasthan's economic geography.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed progress on the Barmer-Jalore inland port project in the Rajya Sabha on 29 July .
The IWAI has tasked IIT Madras with mathematical modelling and the DPR for National Waterway-48 , covering the Jawai-Luni river system and Rann of Kutch .
The Bhavatra to Kandla Creek route has been identified as the most suitable alignment; other alternatives are also technically feasible.
A pre-feasibility report for the proposed inland port in Bakhasar, Barmer district has already been prepared.
India currently has 12 major ports and 217 non-major ports ; the Vadhavan Port greenfield deep-draft project has received Centre approval.
The project is expected to boost trade, logistics, employment, and industrial investment in Barmer and Jalore districts.
The proposed inland port and artificial canal project in Rajasthan's Barmer-Jalore region has gained fresh momentum, with critical technical and feasibility studies now in advanced stages. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed the progress in the Rajya Sabha on 29 July, responding to a question from Rajya Sabha MP and Rajasthan Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Madan Rathore on the feasibility of bringing seawater inland to establish a port in the region.
What the Studies Have Found
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has assigned the National Technology Centre at IIT Madras the task of mathematical modelling and preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for National Waterway-48, which covers the Jawai-Luni river system and the Rann of Kutch. According to the study, the route from Bhavatra to Kandla Creek has emerged as the most suitable alignment, though other alternatives have also been assessed as technically feasible. A traffic study is currently being updated on the basis of these findings.
Pre-Feasibility Report Already in Place
Rathore noted that a pre-feasibility report has already been prepared for the proposed inland port and artificial canal in the Bakhasar area of Barmer district. This positions the project as one of the more structurally advanced infrastructure proposals in landlocked western Rajasthan — a region that has historically been distant from India's maritime trade corridors.
India's Port Landscape and the Vadhavan Greenfield Port
In the same response, Minister Sonowal informed the House that India currently operates 12 major ports and 217 non-major ports. He also confirmed that approval has been granted for the development of Vadhavan Port on the western coast as a greenfield deep-draft port — a project that forms part of the broader push to expand India's maritime infrastructure capacity.
What It Could Mean for Western Rajasthan
Rathore described the inland port initiative as highly significant for the region, arguing it has the potential to catalyse industrial investment, trade, logistics, transportation, employment, and infrastructure development across the border districts of Barmer and Jalore. If realised, the project could serve as a landmark step in integrating a landlocked, border-adjacent region with India's national maritime trade network. This comes amid a broader Centre-level push to develop multimodal logistics infrastructure in underserved regions.
What Comes Next
The updated traffic study will be a key determinant of the project's next phase. Once the DPR is finalised by IIT Madras, it will inform decisions on alignment, investment scale, and implementation timelines. Stakeholders in the logistics and industrial sectors in Rajasthan are watching closely, as the project's success could open new economic corridors linking the state to the Kandla port gateway on the Gujarat coast.
Point of View
And India's track record on large waterway projects is mixed. The real test will come when the IIT Madras DPR lands: whether the traffic projections are commercially defensible, and whether the Centre commits capital at the scale the project demands. For western Rajasthan — economically marginalised despite its strategic border location — the stakes are high enough that half-measures would be worse than no measure at all.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Rajasthan inland port project in Barmer-Jalore?
It is a proposed inland port and artificial canal initiative aimed at connecting Rajasthan's Barmer-Jalore region to India's maritime trade network by bringing seawater inland. A pre-feasibility report has been prepared for the Bakhasar area of Barmer district, and IIT Madras is now developing the Detailed Project Report for the associated National Waterway-48.
Which route has been identified as most suitable for the waterway?
According to the study conducted under IWAI's mandate, the route from Bhavatra to Kandla Creek has emerged as the most suitable alignment for the waterway. Other alternatives have also been found technically feasible, and a traffic study is being updated based on these findings.
What role is IIT Madras playing in this project?
The National Technology Centre at IIT Madras has been entrusted by the Inland Waterways Authority of India with mathematical modelling and preparation of the Detailed Project Report for National Waterway-48, which covers the Jawai-Luni river system and the Rann of Kutch.
Who raised the question about this project in Parliament?
Rajya Sabha MP and Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore raised the question in the Rajya Sabha, seeking details on operational ports, plans for new ports, and the feasibility of establishing a port in the Barmer-Jalore region. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal responded with the update on 29 July.
Why does this project matter for western Rajasthan?
Western Rajasthan, including the border districts of Barmer and Jalore, is landlocked and has historically been distant from India's maritime trade corridors. The inland port, if realised, could open new avenues for industrial investment, logistics, employment, and trade, integrating the region with the national maritime network via the Kandla gateway.
