Strategic Inland Waterways Terminal in Assam Connecting Bangladesh and Bhutan Becomes Operational.

India has operationalised a strategic inland waterways terminal (IWT) at Jogighopa in Assam, enhancing regional trade and connectivity with Bhutan and Bangladesh. The terminal’s inauguration saw the flagging off of two ships and barges carrying 110 metric tonnes of coal and stone chips to Bangladesh.

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated the terminal on Tuesday in the presence of Bhutan’s Minister of Industries, Commerce and Employment, Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji.

Located 91 km from Gelephu in Bhutan and 108 km from Bangladesh, the Jogighopa terminal holds strategic importance for India’s bilateral trade ties with both countries. Built at a cost of over ₹82 crore, the terminal features a cemented jetty equipped with electric-level cranes for efficient cargo handling. Additional infrastructure includes an administrative building, customs and immigration offices, a truck parking area, a 1,100-sq-m covered storage facility with power backup, and an 11,000-sq-m open storage area.

“The terminal will transform regional connectivity and bolster India’s trade with Bhutan and Bangladesh. Its strategic location positions it as an economic multiplier for the region, aligning with the Prime Minister’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy,” Sonowal stated.

India is reinforcing its role as a key waterway gateway in South Asia through strategic regional projects and agreements with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and other countries, he added.

HBL