Centre’s big push for NE waterways: Rs 5,000-Cr investment, jobs & connectivity

50,000 youth to be skilled; Kaladan Project to be ready by 2027

The Modi government has announced a Rs 5,000-crore investment to revolutionize the waterways and maritime infrastructure across Northeast India, with a focus on connectivity, cargo movement, tourism, and job creation.

At a press conference held in Guwahati on Monday, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal detailed a string of ambitious projects, including the training of 50,000 youth in maritime skills, full operationalisation of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) by 2027, development of 85 community jetties, deployment of 10 amphibian and cutter dredgers, and introduction of Water Metro projects in Guwahati, Tezpur and Dibrugarh.

“Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, we have revitalised India’s maritime sector as never before,” Sonowal stated. “These achievements reflect the Modi government’s unwavering commitment to make India a global maritime powerhouse and drive inclusive development across every coastal and riverine region.”

Maritime skill push for youth
The minister announced that 50,000 youth from the Northeast will be trained in world-class maritime skills over the next decade, with guaranteed employment opportunities. This will be implemented through the Maritime Skill Development Centre (MSDC) in Guwahati and a Centre of Excellence (CoE) coming up in Dibrugarh with a Rs 200 crore investment. Combined, these centers are expected to generate at least 500 jobs annually.

“Modi ji has always envisioned how Yuva Shakti can bring about real transformation in the country,” Sonowal said. “Our centres in Guwahati and Dibrugarh will be the backbone of this transformation.”

Inland waterways infrastructure
In the last two years, the Ministry has undertaken Rs 1,000 crore worth of projects for the inland waterways sector in the region, of which Rs 300 crore worth of works have been completed.

Key developments include:
· Permanent cargo terminals at Pandu, Jogighopa, Dhubri, Karimganj, Bogibeel, and Badarpur.
· Tourist jetties worth Rs 299 crore under construction.
· Year-round fairway dredging to ensure navigability.
· New approach road to Pandu Port and heritage restoration in Dibrugarh.
· Lighthouses planned at Bogibeel, Pandu, Biswanath Ghat and Silghat.

The Ministry is also set to deploy 10 state-of-the-art amphibian and cutter dredgers with a Rs 610 crore investment to maintain year-round waterway access. These will support the 100 barges to be operated by German logistics major Rhenus on National Waterways 2 and 16 by 2025, enhancing regional cargo connectivity.

“We are unlocking the true economic potential of the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers,” said Sonowal. “This will transform cargo movement and empower local communities.”

Kaladan Project by 2027
On the much-anticipated Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, Sonowal confirmed that the strategic initiative—linking India’s Northeast with Myanmar via sea and inland waterways—will be fully operational by 2027.

“The Kaladan Project is a result of the India-Myanmar Friendship Treaty,” Sonowal said. “It will provide the Northeast with direct access to sea routes and enhance connectivity with Southeast Asia.”

The project connects Sittwe Port in Myanmar to Paletwa via inland waterways, and then by road to Zorinpui in Mizoram. The route also enables cargo transfer to Teknaf Port in Bangladesh and then overland to Sabroom in Tripura, linking the region to new trade corridors.

Exports from Myanmar through Sittwe Port include rice, timber, seafood, petroleum products, and textiles, while imports include cement, steel and construction materials.

Tourism and urban transport
The Centre will invest Rs 300 crore to develop tourism and cargo jetties at Silghat, Neamati, Biswanath Ghat, and Guijan. Plans for Water Metro projects in Guwahati, Tezpur and Dibrugarh have already cleared the feasibility stage, with vessels to be procured under Central schemes.

Additionally, lighthouses will be set up in four locations—Pandu, Tezpur, Biswanath, and Bogibeel—each integrated with IMD centres to provide accurate local weather forecasts. These are being developed with support from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Regional focus: Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura
The Ministry is also working to expand inland waterways infrastructure and tourism in Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. The Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR) is being promoted as a vital link to bypass the Siliguri Corridor and unlock regional trade potential, in line with the Modi government’s Act East Policy and vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

“These projects reflect our commitment to transform the Northeast into a major hub of waterways-based trade, tourism and employment,” Sonowal added.

MT