Government Plans ₹5,000 Crore Investment for Northeast Waterways: Sonowal.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Monday announced a ₹5,000 crore investment by the central government aimed at revolutionizing the waterways and maritime sector across the Northeast region.

Sonowal highlighted that major Indian ports have nearly doubled their capacity, cruise tourism is expanding with ambitious new terminals, and critical legislative and digital reforms, alongside green shipping initiatives, are enhancing India’s global port competitiveness. Notably, nine Indian ports have now secured spots in the World Bank’s top 100, with Visakhapatnam Port breaking into the top 20.

Skill Development and Employment Generation

The government is also initiating a comprehensive skill development program designed to train 50,000 youth from the Northeast in maritime skills over the next decade, promising assured employment opportunities within the sector.

Central to this ambition are the Maritime Skill Development Centre (MSDC) in Guwahati and the upcoming Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Dibrugarh, which will be developed with an investment of ₹200 crore. Both centers are projected to generate 500 jobs annually.

"Our vision is to train, enable & empower 50,000 youth from the Northeast with world-class maritime skills over the next decade, ensuring meaningful employment & growth," Sonowal stated. "Our centres in Guwahati & Dibrugarh will be the backbone of this transformation.”

Infrastructure Development in Northeast Waterways

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) has undertaken projects worth ₹1,000 crore in the Northeast’s inland waterways sector over the past two years. Of this, ₹300 crore worth of work has already been completed, with an additional ₹700 crore slated for completion by 2025. Major initiatives include:

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  Permanent cargo terminals at key locations such as Pandu, Jogighopa, Dhubri, Bogibeel, Karimganj, and Badarpur.

  
  


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  Ensuring year-round fairway dredging.

  
  


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  Construction of a new approach road to Pandu Port.

  
  


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  Heritage restoration in Dibrugarh.

  
  


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  Development of tourist jetties worth ₹299 crore.

  
  


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  Plans for lighthouses at Bogibeel, Biswanath Ghat, Silghat, and Pandu.

  
  

Feasibility studies for cruise vessel operations in Guwahati, Tezpur, and Dibrugarh have been completed and found viable, with vessels currently being procured under central schemes. Efforts are also underway to expand Inland Water Transport (IWT) infrastructure and promote water-based tourism in Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.

Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project Nears Completion

Responding to queries on the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP), Sonowal confirmed that this strategic initiative, stemming from the India-Myanmar Friendship Treaty, is set to be fully operational by 2027.

The KMTTP connects Sittwe port in Myanmar to Paletwa via an inland waterway, and from Paletwa to Zorinpui in Mizoram via a road component. An alternative route from Sittwe to Sabroom, Tripura, via Bangladesh's Teknaf Port, is expected to significantly reduce transportation time and logistics costs for Tripura.

Enhancing Cargo Movement and Local Connectivity

To further boost cargo movement, 100 barges operated by German global logistics major Rhenus will be deployed on National Waterway 2 and 16 by 2025. The ministry also plans to invest ₹610 crore to deploy 10 amphibian and cutter suction dredgers to ensure year-round navigability. Sonowal also announced plans to develop 85 community jetties across the Northeast to improve local connectivity.

“To unlock the true economic potential of the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers, we are investing ₹610 crore to deploy 10 state-of-the-art dredgers, ensuring all-weather navigability," Sonowal explained. "This will transform cargo movement, create new trade routes, and strengthen economic linkages across Assam and the entire Northeast. By combining this with 100 modern barges by global logistics majors from Germany, Rhenus, and 85 community jetties, we aim to build an integrated and sustainable waterways network that empowers local communities and drives growth.”

Promoting Tourism and Modern Urban Transport

In an effort to bolster tourism and regional trade, ₹300 crore will be invested in new tourism and cargo jetties at Silghat, Neamati, Biswanath Ghat, and Guijan, the shipping ministry statement added.

Additionally, Water Metro projects are planned for Guwahati, Tezpur, and Dibrugarh, with feasibility studies already completed. The government will also establish lighthouses at Pandu, Tezpur, Biswanath, and Bogibeel, equipped with IMD centers to provide accurate local weather forecasts.

“These projects reflect our commitment to transform the Northeast into a major hub of waterways-based trade, tourism and employment, aligned with PM Narendra Modi’s vision of inclusive development,” Sonowal concluded.