Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, announced a major investment of over Rs. 4,800 crore to boost Assam’s inland waterways sector during the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit on Wednesday. The plan, aimed at reviving and enhancing the state’s water transportation system, aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat” and positions Assam as a key player in the nation’s growth trajectory.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to making Assam a hub for riverine trade and tourism, Sonowal announced the allocation of Rs. 1,500 crore for the transition to green vessels by 2030 under the ‘Harit Nauka Scheme’. He also revealed a Rs. 315 crore investment for developing a world-class water metro service in Guwahati and Dhubri, which is set to revolutionise urban transportation along the state’s waterways.
“With its rich inter web of riverine system in the region, especially in Assam with Brahmaputra (NW2) and Barak (NW16), the inland waterways aims at rejuvenating its ageless role as the main conduit of trade and commerce. Globally considered as futuristic, the inland waterways provides an opportunity to opt for a more economic, efficient and environment friendly mode of transporting cargo and passengers,” Sonowal said.
He added, “With the launch of schemes like ‘Jalvahak’, the Modi government has been incentivising the businesses to switch to inland waterways, thereby, improving the economies of scale, decongesting the railways and roadways and enabling a conducive ecosystem that is vital for pivotal role Assam is set to play towards India’s ascendency to become world’s biggest and an Atmanirbhar economy by 2047.”
In Dibrugarh, the Centre has earmarked Rs. 120 crore to establish a Regional Centre of Excellence (RCOE), further boosting Assam’s maritime infrastructure. Additionally, Rs. 100 crore has been allocated for the construction of riverine lighthouses at five strategic locations along the Brahmaputra—Bogibeel, Biswanath, Nimati, Pandu, and Silghat—to ensure safe navigation.
As part of the broader plan, the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) will be responsible for maintaining a 2.5-meter draft along the Bangladesh border to Pandu, with Rs. 191 crore dedicated to this project, ensuring smoother waterway operations.
Sonowal emphasised that the inland waterways sector will play a crucial role in reducing congestion on roads and railways while promoting eco-friendly and cost-efficient cargo and passenger transport. He added that the Centre’s Sagarmala scheme will also contribute Rs. 646 crore towards constructing riverine infrastructure along the Brahmaputra.
The summit was attended by Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, along with other dignitaries and industry leaders.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency for the riverine transportation including national waterways under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), is implementing projects worth Rs. 1,010 crore along river Brahmaputra (NW2) and river Barak (NW16) in Assam.
Among the major projects, the ship repair facility is being built at Panda with an investment of Rs. 208 crore while an alternate road from Pandu to NH27 is being built at an investment of Rs. 180 crore. New Inland Waterways Terminal (IWT) at Bogibeel as well as at Jogighopa —- with more than Rs. 66 crore and Rs. 82 crore of investment —- are being developed on Brahmaputra to ‘enable possibilities meet opportunities’, Sonowal added.
On February 18, Sonowal had inaugurated the Inland Waterways Terminal (IWT) at Jogighopa. The foundation stone for the terminal was laid by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2021.