The correct option is Allahabad-Haldia Waterway.
Explanation
Inland Water Transport (IWT) in India is a fuel-efficient and environment-friendly mode of transportation. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) regulates and develops these waterways. Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, 111 waterways have been declared as National Waterways (NWs).
Option Analysis
- Allahabad-Haldia Waterway is correct: The Allahabad-Haldia Waterway is designated as National Waterway 1 (NW-1). It operates on the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system. Stretching approximately 1,620 km, it is the longest National Waterway in India. It is also the most significant in terms of freight movement, facilitating the transport of bulk cargo such as coal, cement, food grains, and fertilizers across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
- Kakinada-Puducherry Waterway is incorrect: The Kakinada-Puducherry Waterway is designated as National Waterway 4 (NW-4). It includes stretches of the Godavari and Krishna rivers along with the Buckingham Canal. Its total length is approximately 1,078 km, which is shorter than NW-1.
- Kollam-Kottapuram Waterway is incorrect: The Kollam-Kottapuram Waterway is designated as National Waterway 3 (NW-3). It is located on the West Coast Canal in Kerala and spans approximately 205 km. While it is the first waterway to be fully operational with 24-hour navigation facilities, it is significantly smaller than NW-1.
- Sadiya-Dhubri Waterway is incorrect: The Sadiya-Dhubri Waterway is designated as National Waterway 2 (NW-2). It operates on the Brahmaputra River in Assam and spans approximately 891 km.
Key Takeaway: National Waterway 1 (NW-1), connecting Allahabad (Prayagraj) and Haldia via the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly system, is India's longest (1,620 km) and most utilized inland waterway for freight transport.