Knowledge Marine & Engineering Works (KMEW), through a consortium led by Knowledge Shipyard, has secured a ₹66.11 crore contract from the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to design, build, supply, test and commission 10 hybrid electric passenger ferries. The order marks another step in India’s push toward greener inland water transport and modern passenger mobility.
The ferries will each have a capacity of 20 passengers and are intended to support cleaner, more efficient operations on inland waterways. The contract value includes ₹65.52 crore for construction and ₹0.59 crore for maintenance and support, giving the project a long-term service component as well.
The execution period for the ferry build is 10 months, followed by a 60-month maintenance and support commitment. That structure gives the consortium a multi-year relationship with IWAI and strengthens its position in India’s inland shipping and marine engineering segment.
The order also highlights growing government interest in hybrid and electric vessel solutions for passenger transport. As inland waterways become more central to India’s logistics and mobility strategy, projects like this are expected to support sustainable shipbuilding, regional connectivity and lower-emission marine transport.
