GUWAHATI, May 20: The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Sunday reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to enhance inland waterway infrastructure in Assam and the Northeast. During a review meeting with senior officials, Sonowal announced that an additional ₹1,000 crore will be invested in the region’s waterways projects by 2026.
He stated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Northeast remains a top priority and that the ongoing projects are central to the vision of Viksit Bharat. Over the past two years, more than ₹1,000 crore has already been invested in the region’s inland waterways sector, with ₹300 crore worth of projects completed and the remaining ₹700 crore expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
The review covered infrastructure development along National Waterways 2 (Brahmaputra) and 16 (Barak), with discussions on terminals, passenger vessels, water sports hubs, and feasibility studies in Nagaland, Mizoram, and Meghalaya. Sonowal also highlighted a ₹1,500 crore plan for cruise tourism and cargo handling projects by 2027–28, with modern jetties coming up at key locations like Silghat, Bishwanath Ghat, Neamati Ghat, and Guijan.
In addition, Water Metro services are being developed in Guwahati and Dibrugarh with an investment of ₹315 crore. Guwahati will also see the construction of a ₹100 crore cruise terminal, while a ₹120 crore Regional Centre of Excellence will come up in Dibrugarh. Efforts are underway to ensure consistent navigability along the Brahmaputra through dredging, fairway development, and infrastructure upgrades.
The Inland Water Transport (IWT) system is set to expand in areas such as Doyang, Noune, Shilloi, Tiawng, Chhimtuipui, Umiam, and Ummgot. Sonowal also emphasized initiatives aimed at empowering local youth through the establishment of maritime training centers in Guwahati.
