State urges Centre to move beyond notification and begin work on the Tizu–Zungki river
The Tizu–Zungki river’s potential as an inland waterway could reshape trade, logistics, and regional connectivity for Nagaland, but only if the project moves beyond official notification. On January 23, the State government urged the Centre to fast-track the development of the Tizu–Zungki river system, warning that delays could undermine its strategic potential.
Raising the issue at the 3rd Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) meeting held in Kochi on Friday, Power and Parliamentary Affairs Minister KG Kenye called upon the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to take up National Waterway‑101 “with sincerity,” stressing that the benefits of the project would remain limited unless it moves from official notification to execution on the ground.
Technical groundwork for the Tizu–Zungki waterway is already under way. A joint hydrographic survey of NW‑101 was conducted in October 2024 by IWAI’s Regional Office in Guwahati along with Nagaland State Transport officials. The survey is an early step toward assessing navigability and infrastructure requirements, though the final report is still awaited.
Nagaland’s push for the inland waterway arises from long-standing transport challenges caused by its hilly terrain and limited rail connectivity, which make road transport slow and costly. Inland water transport offers a more fuel-efficient and cost-effective alternative for moving goods and passengers, which State officials say could ease logistical burdens on farmers, traders, and local industries.
According to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by IWAI, the development of the Tizu–Zungki waterway could also facilitate commercial movement of natural resources, including limestone, magnetite, chromite, and coal, from parts of Nagaland’s river basins, creating economic opportunities beyond conventional road logistics.
The Tizu–Zungki river, which runs close to the India–Myanmar border, has been notified as National Waterway‑101 and is considered strategically important under the Centre’s Act East Policy. The waterway starts from Kiphire district in Nagaland and ends in the Chindwin river in Myanmar. Within Nagaland, NW‑101 flows from Longmatra towards Avangkhu, connecting remote hill districts to potential trade routes. In his address, Kenye said the river system could open new trade routes linking Nagaland with Assam’s river network and, in the longer term, with Southeast Asian markets via the India–Myanmar corridor.
The minister also submitted a formal representation to the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, seeking the extension of inland waterways from Lakhimpur in Assam towards Nagaland through the Barak river system. Enhanced river connectivity, he said, could strengthen inter-State trade across Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura, while improving market access and export potential for local products.
The intervention came as the IWDC cleared projects worth over ₹1,500 crore across the country to expand inland water transport, promote green mobility, and strengthen multimodal logistics. The council also announced plans to develop 85 jetties across the Northeast, with an investment exceeding ₹500 crore, aimed at improving regional connectivity and livelihoods in riverine areas.