First-ever digital NoC issued for private terminal on national waterway
Digital Goa, April 10 – Goa is set to get a private jetty at Malim on River Mandovi (National Waterway-68), with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) granting the first No Objection Certificate (NoC) to the project through its newly launched digital portal. The Rs 8-crore project by Mumbai-based Marina India Infrastructure Private Limited is designed to berth up to 16 privately owned yachts and pleasure crafts up to 30 meters in length. The jetty will support docking and undocking for each trip. The project aims to boost river cruise tourism along the waterway, stated an official release. The NoC was handed over by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal during the launch of a portal aimed at attracting private investment and simplifying approvals in inland water transport. The first NOC through this new portal was issued digitally to Marina India. This is the first-of-its-kind NoC issued digitally to any private entity for construction of a terminal on any national waterway in the country. The move comes under the National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025, which enables private players to build and operate terminals across India’s waterways network. The new regulations bring both permanent and temporary terminals—existing or new—under a unified framework. Permanent terminals can operate for a lifetime, while temporary ones will have an initial five-year term with provisions for extension.
