MoUs worth Rs 3 000 cr signed for development of inland waterways in Northeast

    Guwahati, Nov 21 (PTI) The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has entered into agreements worth Rs 3,000 crore with various stakeholders for developing the sector and boosting industrial connectivity in the Northeast, an official statement said on Friday.
    It said the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed during the India Maritime Week 2025, held recently in Mumbai.
    Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal also chaired a comprehensive review meeting with senior officials of the ministry as well as the IWAI on all projects in Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya, including those under Central Sector Scheme (CSS), during the meet.
    The review meet focussed on 15 primary projects in progress as well as 10 CSS projects, including three in Mizoram, two each in Nagaland and Tripura, and one in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
    The meeting also cleared a concept study for an-all weather approach road at Bogibeel for smooth passage to the cargo-cum-tourist terminal.
    With a vision to expand river cruise tourism, the IWAI signed an MoU of Rs 500 crore with Heritage River Journeys Pvt Ltd to develop and induct new cruise vessels and expand cruising operations on the national waterways, it said.
    The partnership aims to strengthen premium tourism experiences and tap the heritage and natural appeal of the Brahmaputra and other major rivers.
    IWAI and the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) signed an agreement to establish a collaborative framework aimed at enhancing river navigation safety and promoting tourism along National Waterway 2 (NW-2) in Assam.
    An MoU of Rs 1,000 crore with Rhenus Logistics was inked, which will enable the induction of modern tug-barges on the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers, significantly enhancing cargo transportation capacity and improving multimodal logistics efficiency for the Northeast.
    For the development of cruise terminals at Neamati, Silghat, Biswanath Ghat and Guijan in Assam, an investment of Rs 299 crore has been earmarked, the statement said.
    For the development of the Regional Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh with a project value of Rs 188 crore, alongside a Rs 55-crore plan for developing a key land parcel in Guwahati, two other MoUs were also signed.
    "Our collaboration to export products to neighbouring markets and the creation of a Regional Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh reflect our commitment to innovation and global integration. We are transforming our waterways into engines of growth, prosperity and pride," Sonowal had said.
    The IWAI also signed two MoUs to strengthen Assam's inland water transport network and industrial logistics.
    The agreements -- with Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd. (APL) and the state government -- aim to promote the movement of cargo and passengers through the state's extensive river systems, advancing the goals of sustainable connectivity and regional growth.
    The MoU with APL aims to collaborate for the transportation of methanol and formalin through the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR) and the National Waterways.
    The second MoU, signed with the state government, focuses on the development and promotion of an Urban Water Transport (UWT) System, or Water Metro, in Tezpur, Guwahati, and Dibrugarh.
    Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal had said, "These MoUs mark a major step forward in realising the vision to transform the Northeast into a hub of inland waterway connectivity and industrial opportunity."
    "We remain firmly anchored in our intent to develop the inland waterways ecosystem in the region for optimum utilisation and explore possibilities and convert them into tangible opportunities that drive growth, trade and sustainability," the minister added.
    In Mizoram, IWAI is advancing key inland water transport projects to strengthen regional connectivity and river-based mobility.
    A study is underway for IWT infrastructure on the Tlawng River and the Chhimtuipui River.
    Construction work has commenced under stage-1 of the Rs 9.82-crore project for developing IWT infrastructure on the Khawthlangtuipui-Tuichawng stretch in Lunglei district, the statement said.
    In Nagaland, IWAI is preparing DPRs for developing inland water transport facilities at Doyang Lake, and for promoting water sports and tourism at Noune and Shilloi lakes under CSS.
    For Manipur, a techno-economic feasibility study and DPR have been proposed for developing IWT on the Barak River and its tributaries, as well as the Imphal and Nambul rivers in Manipur under the CSS.
    In Meghalaya, DPR for developing IWT infrastructure on Umiam Lake and the Umngot River (NW-106) are being conducted.
    In Tripura, a project has been taken up to develop the Gomti River and establish navigational linkage with the Meghna river system in Bangladesh.
    Additionally, a study is going on for the introduction of a cruise ship service on Dumbur Lake in Dhalai district aimed at boosting tourism and leisure-based river travel in the state.
    A proposal has been initiated for the development of IWT infrastructure on the Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh.
    "We aim to invest more than Rs 5,000 crore for the development of IWT in the region in the coming years. With new partnerships to strengthen cargo movement, river tourism and cross-border trade, Inland Waterways are becoming a lifeline of opportunity for our people," Sonowal added.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)