Sonowal unveils a ₹4,800 crore plan to revamp Assam’s waterways, boosting trade, tourism, and green vessel adoption by 2030.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, has announced a ₹4,800 crore investment to modernise and expand Assam’s inland waterways. Speaking at the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit in Guwahati, Sonowal emphasised the transformative potential of the state’s riverine transport system in driving economic growth, enhancing trade, and strengthening regional connectivity in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat vision.
A significant portion of this investment, ₹1,500 crore, has been allocated under the ‘Harit Nauka’ scheme to transition towards green vessels by 2030, reducing the sector’s carbon footprint. Another ₹1,500 crore has been earmarked for enhancing cruise tourism and expanding cargo handling capacity by 2027–28 across National Waterways 2 (NW2) and 16 (NW16). This includes constructing new jetties with onshore facilities at Silghat, Bishwanath Ghat, Neamati Ghat, and Guijan, alongside a regional office, MSDC, and guest house in Guwahati’s Fancy Bazar.
To boost ship repair capabilities, ₹375 crore has been designated for Phase II of the Pandu Ship Repair Facility, ensuring vessels on Assam’s waterways have reliable maintenance infrastructure. Additionally, ₹191 crore has been committed to ensuring a 2.5-meter fairway draft from the Bangladesh border to Pandu in NW-2 by 2026-27, with the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) entrusted with execution.
The Minister also unveiled plans for Water Metro Services in Guwahati and Dhubri, with an estimated investment of ₹315 crore. Modelled on the successful Kochi Metro, feasibility studies for this initiative are already underway. Additionally, two electric catamarans, developed by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), will be deployed to enhance sustainable river transport. To further boost river tourism, a world-class cruise terminal will be developed in Guwahati at a cost of ₹100 crore.
In Dibrugarh, ₹120 crore has been allocated to develop a Regional Centre of Excellence (RCOE). Meanwhile, five riverine lighthouses will be built at Bogibeel, Biswanath, Nimati, Pandu, and Silghat at an estimated cost of ₹100 crore. Additional ₹150 crore has been sanctioned for fairway development between Pandu and Bogibeel, ensuring navigability and smoother operations. The government will also procure two Cutter Section Dredgers for the Brahmaputra (NW2) to facilitate continuous river maintenance.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), is leading various initiatives worth ₹1,010 crore for riverine infrastructure development across Brahmaputra (NW2) and Barak (NW16). Major projects include a ₹208 crore ship repair facility at Pandu, an ₹180 crore alternate road from Pandu to NH27, and new Inland Waterways Terminals (IWTs) at Bogibeel (₹66 crore) and Jogighopa (₹82 crore).
Additionally, under the Sagarmala Scheme, ₹646 crore has been allocated to construct riverine infrastructure along the Brahmaputra, enhancing connectivity and trade efficiency. For the Barak River, investments include procurement of Survey Vessels, Amphibian Dredgers, Crane Pontoons, Steel Pontoons, and Gangways, ensuring floating terminal facilities at Karimganj and Badarpur.
Sonowal stated that these initiatives would unlock Assam’s inland waterways potential, positioning it as a key hub for eco-friendly transportation, trade, and tourism while driving regional economic growth.
Source: Maritime gateway
