Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated and dedicated a series of inland waterways infrastructure projects worth Rs 526 crore in Assam.
Implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), the projects are aimed at improving connectivity, boosting the blue economy, and expanding cargo handling along the Brahmaputra River (National Waterway-2).
The new projects include a state-of-the-art elevated road corridor connecting Guwahati's Pandu Port to National Highway-27, a new cruise terminal at the Biswanath Ghat, a Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE) at Bogibeel (in Dibrugarh), and a cruise terminal at Neamati.
"These projects worth thousands of crores are creating new avenues of employment for Assam's youth and are boosting the state's prosperity," PM Modi said.
"Waterways offer cost advantage which directly benefits farmers, traders and manufacturers across the Northeast. The re-energised waterways system in the region strengthens that economic artery at its most critical juncture," said Union Minister, MoPSW, Sarbananda Sonowal.
The specifics
The new elevated road corridor is being built under an investment of Rs 180 crore.
The purpose of this road corridor is to plug in the last-mile connectivity gap between one of the NW-2's main river terminals and the National Highway network.
Designed with Guwahati's urban congestion in mind, the corridor ensures seamless access to Pandu Port, improving operational flexibility and reducing logistics costs considerably.
The cruise terminals at the Biswanath Ghat and Neamati are part of a coordinated effort to build modern cruise infrastructure along the NW-2.
The terminals, which carry a combined cost of Rs 158 crore, will enhance passenger amenities, support river cruise operations, and generate fresh economic opportunities for local communities in the tourism, hospitality and handicrafts sectors.
The Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE) at Bogibeel is being developed with an investment of Rs 188 crore.
Touted as the first maritime skill development hub of its kind in northeast India, the RCoE will train over 5,000 students annually in vessel operations, inland navigation and maritime logistics.
It will also house vital R&D infrastructure for crew and trainee programmes, in line with the growing needs of India's maritime sector.