Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government is set to introduce a new regulatory framework for river transport under the proposed Inland Vessels Rules-2026, under which every boat and watercraft in the state will be allotted a unique registration number, officials said in a statement on Wednesday, October 28.

Source: IANS via HiIndia

Under the proposed registration system, mechanically propelled watercraft will be assigned unique identification numbers of 10 digits or letters, while non-mechanically propelled boats will receive 12-character identification numbers, according to the state Transport Department's outline of the rules. The system is aimed at making every vessel identifiable and easier to monitor.

Source: The CSR Journal

The framework will cover passenger transport, river tourism, traditional boat operations and cargo movement on the state's major rivers — the Ganga, Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gomti, Gandak and Betwa. "This initiative is expected to make passenger transport, river tourism, traditional boat operations, and cargo transport safer and more systematic across major rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gomti, Gandak, and Betwa," an official statement said.

What changes at the ghats

Passenger safety sits at the centre of the draft rules. River ghats will have to mandatorily provide permanent lighting, signboards, life buoys and the presence of divers. Every boat must carry life jackets numbering 10 per cent more than its passenger capacity, along with a 10-metre rope and a first-aid kit, and operators will have to give passengers safety-related information before every journey. Emergency rescue boats are to be maintained at a ratio of one for every ten watercraft so that rescue operations can be carried out swiftly.

10 digits/lettersUnique ID for motorised watercraft
12 charactersUnique ID for non-motorised boats
110%Life jackets against passenger capacity on every boat
1:10Rescue boats to watercraft ratio
90 daysGrace period for existing boats to comply

Two dedicated funds will support the sector. A State Development Fund for motorised vessels will be financed through fees and penalties collected from water transport operations, while a District Welfare Fund will be set up at the district level for activities linked to non-motorised vessels and the welfare of boat operators. Responsibility for the leasing, maintenance, operation and safety of ghats will rest with local bodies, development authorities and district committees, and a district-level committee chaired by the District Magistrate will be formed in each district specifically to prevent boat accidents.

The proposed rules have been framed under the Inland Vessels Act, 2021, and are intended to replace the existing regulations dating back to 2002. The framework runs to 16 chapters — the first 14 covering mechanically propelled watercraft, Chapter 15 addressing non-mechanically propelled watercraft and Chapter 16 laying down general provisions for both. Existing watercraft will get a 90-day grace period to comply once the rules take effect, and where any discrepancy arises, the provisions of the central Act will prevail.

Officials said Uttar Pradesh's wide river network carries significant potential for passenger transport, tourism, traditional boating and freight, and that a clear registration system, defined safety standards, better-managed ghats and welfare provisions for boatmen are expected to build passenger confidence and reduce the risk of accidents. Implementation timelines are still awaited.