Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, has announced an additional Rs 1,000 crore investment in inland waterways infrastructure across Assam and the Northeast in 2026, underscoring the region’s pivotal role in the Centre’s vision for a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Chairing a high-level review meeting with officials from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Cochin Shipyard Ltd., and others, the Union Minister emphasized timely completion of ongoing projects to transform the Northeast into a maritime growth hub. “Northeast is the topmost priority for PM Narendra Modi ji, our work in the region must sync with the vision of Viksit Bharat,” Sonowal said.
He revealed that the government has already undertaken projects worth Rs 1,000 crore in the past two years, of which Rs 300 crore worth has been completed, while Rs 700 crore is slated for completion by the end of 2025.
Sonowal reviewed a range of inland waterway projects in Assam and the broader region, including progress on NW2 (Brahmaputra) and NW16 (Barak). Notably for Nagaland, the minister reviewed the proposed Inland Water Transport project at Doyang Lake, and assessed Noune and Shilloi Lakes for potential development into water sports and tourism hubs. These initiatives are aimed at expanding cargo and passenger movement and catalyzing sustainable economic activity.
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.
To further enhance cruise tourism and cargo handling capacity across Brahmaputra and Barak rivers, over Rs 1,500 crore has been earmarked for key projects scheduled to be completed by 2027-28.
“As per the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, we are developing robust waterway infrastructure in Assam and the Northeast… to boost cargo and passenger movement, improve last-mile connectivity, and promote economic growth in the Northeast,” Sonowal said.
In line with future-readiness, the minister also directed officials to develop advanced maritime skillsets among youth in the region through institutions like the Maritime Skill Development Centre in Guwahati and the Centre of Excellence for Inland Water Transport in Dibrugarh.
To scale up cruise tourism and cargo handling, Rs 1,500 crore has been earmarked for new jetties, cruise terminals, and office infrastructure across Assam. Projects include the Guwahati Water Metro, Rs 100 crore cruise terminal, and five riverine lighthouses along the Brahmaputra.
With enhanced dredging operations, ship repair facilities, and floating terminals in the pipeline, the Centre aims to integrate the Northeast into India’s maritime future and reduce reliance on conventional road and rail infrastructure.
