Guwahati, Feb 26: Assam’s inland waterways are set for a revolutionary transformation as Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, announced a ₹4,800 crore investment at the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit on Wednesday.
The ambitious initiative aims to unlock the vast potential of Assam’s riverine network, modernizing transport, boosting tourism, and promoting eco-friendly navigation under the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’.
“Assam is at the heart of India’s waterways revival. The Modi government has been relentlessly working to turn our rivers into economic lifelines. This investment will not only enhance trade and connectivity but also make Assam a key driver in India’s growth story,” Sonowal said.
Sonowal announced ₹1,500 cr ‘Harit Nauka’ Scheme, a bold move towards Green Vessel Transition by 2030. Conventional vessels will be converted to eco-friendly, fuel-efficient models.
He also announced the world-class Water Metro for Guwahati & Dhubri (₹315 cr), which was inspired by Kochi’s Water Metro, feasibility studies are underway.
He further announced modern ferry services to decongest road traffic and enhance river transport. He announced luxury river cruises & cargo expansion (₹1,500 Cr), new cruise terminals at Guwahati (₹100 cr) and regional cruise hubs in Dibrugarh (₹120 cr), which will be boost to river tourism & trade, making Assam a global river tourism hotspot.
The Union minister also announced a major infrastructure boost for the Brahmaputra & Barak Rivers (₹1,010 cr) which includes the Ship Repair Facility at Pandu (₹208 cr), the first major riverine shipyard in Assam.
Sonowal announced an alternate road from Pandu to NH-27 (₹180 cr) for smoother connectivity and Bogibeel & Jogighopa Inland Waterway Terminals (₹148 cr) to fuel commerce.
He announced dredging & fairway development (₹191 cr) to ensure a minimum depth of 2.5 meters from the Bangladesh border to Pandu and procurement of two Cutter Section Dredger units for the Brahmaputra.
He also announced riverine lighthouses (₹100 cr) for Safer Navigation and said Bogibeel, Biswanath, Nimati, Pandu, and Silghat will get state-of-the-art lighthouses.
For Sagarmala Scheme, he announced ₹646 cr for Brahmaputra Development.
He announced floating terminals, survey vessels, amphibian dredgers, and crane pontoons for enhanced connectivity.
Sonowal emphasized the transformative impact of these projects, stating, “Assam’s inland waterways will become the backbone of a thriving trade and tourism economy. These initiatives will create jobs, attract investment, and establish the Northeast as India’s new economic frontier.”
