In a significant push to boost connectivity and economic development in the Northeast, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday announced that the Centre will invest an additional ₹1,000 crore in Inland Waterways projects in Assam and the Northeast region by 2026.
The announcement came during a high-level review meeting chaired by the minister in Guwahati, where ongoing and proposed projects were discussed with senior officials from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Public Works Department (PWD), Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Ltd (IPRCL) and Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL).
“The government is committed to developing the Northeast as a hub of India’s maritime future. With this additional investment, we aim to accelerate infrastructure and skill development, enhancing the region’s connectivity and economic potential,” Sonowal said.
He noted that projects worth ₹1,000 crore had already been undertaken in the Northeast over the past two years, with ₹300 crore worth of work completed and the remaining ₹700 crore slated for completion by 2025.
Focus on National Waterways and Skill Development
The ministry is currently developing critical infrastructure along National Waterway 2 (Brahmaputra) and National Waterway 16 (Barak). Key initiatives include the construction of passenger vessels, terminal facilities, and capacity-building programs aimed at equipping local talent with advanced maritime skills.
Sonowal directed officials to focus on talent development in the region to meet the growing needs of the maritime and inland waterways industry.
Tourism and Connectivity Projects Across the Region
The review meeting also covered progress on various feasibility studies and tourism-oriented projects:
1)Inland Water Transport (IWT) potential of Doyang Lake and Noune and Shilloi lakes in Nagaland for water sports and tourism.
2)Feasibility studies for developing IWT on the Tiawng and Chhimtuipui rivers in Mizoram, and on Umiam Lake and Ummgot River (National Waterway 106) in Meghalaya.
3)Ongoing development on Barak River (NW16), including survey and dredging equipment deployment and floating terminals at Karimganj and Badarpur.
The minister reiterated the central government’s commitment to transforming the Northeast into a strategic maritime gateway for India’s Act East Policy.
