Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday conducted a comprehensive review of inland waterways infrastructure projects in Assam and the Northeast. The high-level meeting, attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Ltd (IPRCL), and state PWD, focused on aligning regional development with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat.
Sonowal emphasised the timely completion of projects under the ₹1,000 crore inland waterway development plan for the region, asserting that the Northeast remains a top priority for the central government. “Our work must resonate with the larger vision of Viksit Bharat. In the past two years, over Rs. 1,000 crore has already been invested, with ₹300 crore worth of work completed. The remaining ₹700 crore projects are on track to finish by end-2025,” he said.
Projects under the spotlight include key developments along National Waterways 2 (Brahmaputra) and 16 (Barak). These cover passenger vessel construction, modern terminal infrastructure, and capacity-building initiatives. The minister also reviewed proposed projects in Nagaland’s Doyang, Noune, and Shilloi lakes for IWT and tourism, and feasibility studies in Mizoram and Meghalaya for similar ventures.
Highlighting inland waterways as a catalyst for economic transformation, Sonowal said, “Since 2014, the Modi government has revived this once-neglected mode of transport. Initiatives like Jalvahak are helping businesses adopt this cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative, reducing the burden on road and rail networks.”
To ensure skill development aligns with infrastructure growth, the government is developing the Maritime Skill Development Centre in Guwahati and the Centre of Excellence for Inland Water Transport in Dibrugarh. “We are training a workforce ready for both inland and global maritime opportunities,” he added.
Looking ahead, over Rs. 1,500 crore has been earmarked for additional projects to be completed by 2027-28. These include modern jetties at Silghat, Bishwanath Ghat, Neamati Ghat, and Guijan. In Guwahati, a new cruise terminal worth Rs. 100 crore, a Rs. 315 crore Water Metro project with two electric catamarans, and infrastructure for the Mercantile Marine Department are also in the pipeline.
The IWAI is executing Rs. 1,010 crore worth of work across NW2 and NW16, which includes terminals at Bogibeel and Jogighopa and a Rs. 208 crore ship repair facility at Pandu. The Barak River corridor will be equipped with dredging equipment and floating terminals at Karimganj and Badarpur.
To maintain year-round navigability along Brahmaputra (NW2), the Dredging Corporation of India has been assigned to maintain a minimum draft of 2.5 metres up to 2026-27, supported by an additional Rs. 191 crore.
Reiterating the government’s focus, Sonowal said, “The Northeast is not just a gateway to Southeast Asia but a key pillar in India’s journey toward becoming a global maritime leader by 2047.”