In Karnataka State, the Inland Water Transport wing has been created under the Department of Ports in the year 1972 on the recommendations of Gokhale Committee and Bhagavathi Committee to look after the administration, maintenance, control and regulation of the Ferries and Waterways by providing modernized Dumb Boats, LCTs. FRP Boats and Mechanized Steel & Wooden Boats.

According to the latest review, the State has got 335 Ferries out of which 16 Ferries are operated by the Department and 32 Ferries operated by public auction under the control and supervision of the department.

Remaining 282 Ferries are operated by Taluk, Village and Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Development Boards. The personnel working in the department are well trained in the field on Navigation and Nautical Technology. The above Ferry services are mainly provided to cater shore to shore transportation of Men and materials of the remotest rural areas, which are not connected either with road or rail transportation. They are service oriented facilities to the rural commuters for their daily requirements.

During the year 2016-17, totally 21,71,555 passengers and 2,88,908 different kinds of vehicles have been transported through 15 ferries run by the Department of Ports and Inland Water Transport. and earned the revenue of Rs. 81,57,521/- during the year      2016-17