Guwahati: The Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, has said the Centre will invest an additional Rs 1,000 crore in Inland Waterways projects in Assam and the Northeast in 2026.
The Union Minister on Monday reviewed the ongoing projects in Assam and the Northeast with senior officials from the ministry, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Public Works Department (PWD), Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Limited (IPRCL) and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
Sonowal said, “The government has undertaken projects worth Rs 1,000 crore for NER in the last two years, with Rs 300 crore work completed, and works worth Rs 700 crore slated for completion by 2025.”
He also directed officials to hone talent from Assam and the Northeast with Advanced Maritime Skill sets to suit industry needs.
These efforts aim to boost cargo and passenger movement, improve last-mile connectivity, promote economic growth in the Northeast, and align with the broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat through sustainable and inclusive transport solutions, he said.
The government is actively developing key infrastructure projects along NW2 (Brahmaputra) and NW16 (Barak), including the construction of passenger vessels of various capacities, terminal facilities, and capacity-building initiatives.
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Sonowal also reviewed progress on the proposed Inland Water Transport (IWT) project at Doyang Lake, and assessed the potential of Noune and Shilloi Lakes in Nagaland for water sports and tourism.
Feasibility studies for IWT development on the Tiawng and Chhimtuipui rivers in Mizoram, as well as on Umiam Lake and the Ummgot River (NW106) in Meghalaya, were also reviewed.
