Guwahati: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal unveiled an ambitious investment plan worth over Rs. 4,800 crore to revolutionise Assam’s inland waterways sector during the Advantage Assam 2.0 investment summit.
The announcement underscores the state’s pivotal role in advancing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India, or Viksit Bharat.
Speaking at a session on Assam’s roads, railways, and riverine tourism, Sonowal highlighted the transformative potential of Assam’s waterways, especially the Brahmaputra (NW-2) and Barak (NW-16), in driving economic growth.
“Under Prime Minister Modi’s visionary leadership, inland waterways are being rejuvenated to play a crucial role in trade, commerce, and sustainable transportation,” Sonowal stated.
The investment plan includes Rs. 1,500 crore to transition into eco-friendly Green Vessels by 2030 under the ‘Harit Nauka’ scheme, alongside Rs. 1,500 crore to enhance cruise tourism and cargo handling facilities by 2028.
Key projects include constructing jetties with modern amenities at Silghat, Bishwanath Ghat, Neamati Ghat, and Guijan, as well as a new regional office in Guwahati.
Additional initiatives include a Rs. 375-crore Phase II expansion of the Ship Repair Facility at Pandu, and a Rs. 191-crore allocation for dredging to maintain a 2.5-meter draft between the Bangladesh border and Pandu.
Riverine lighthouses will also be established at five locations, including Bogibeel and Pandu, with a budget of Rs. 100 crore.
To boost connectivity, Sonowal announced the development of Water Metro Services in Guwahati and Dhubri, modelled after the successful Kochi Metro, with an investment of Rs. 315 crore.
The deployment of two electric catamarans and the construction of a world-class cruise terminal in Guwahati with a Rs. 100-crore investment are also planned.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency overseeing riverine transportation, is implementing Rs. 1,010 crore worth of projects along the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers.
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This includes alternate road construction at Pandu, inland waterways terminals at Bogibeel and Jogighopa, and riverine infrastructure under the Sagarmala Scheme.
For the Barak River, the government will procure survey vessels and amphibian dredgers, and develop floating terminal facilities at Karimganj and Badarpur.
Sonowal emphasised Assam’s strategic importance in India’s economic resurgence and its growing role as a hub for riverine tourism and trade.
“Advantage Assam serves as a catalyst for economic revival, providing businesses with opportunities to expand,” he said.
The session was attended by Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Minister Krishnendu Paul, IWAI Chairman Vijay Kumar, Singapore High Commissioner Simon Wong, and other officials and corporate leaders from the infrastructure, railways, and marine sectors.
