Fostering the development of waterways in North East India, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, launched projects worth ₹308 crore during an event in Guwahati. The ceremony saw the unveiling of key initiatives simultaneously held at various locations including Bogibeel in Dibrugarh, Badarpur in Karimganj, IWAI port in Dhubri, and Sonamura in Tripura.
Accompanied by several dignitaries including the Minister of Transport, Fisheries & Excise, Assam, Parimal Suklabaidya, and the MP (Lok Sabha) for Guwahati, Queen Oja, Sonowal inaugurated several critical projects aimed at rejuvenating Inland Water Transport (IWT) in the region.
Among the unveiled projects were the Passenger-cum-Cargo terminal at Bogibeel near Dibrugarh, Inland Water Transport Terminal at Sonamura in Tripura, and upgraded terminals at Karimganj & Badarpur in Assam. These terminals are set to play a crucial role in facilitating both cargo and passenger movement, boosting trade and commerce in the region.
The minister emphasized the economic impact of these projects, stating, ‘The terminals at Bogibeel will act as a catalyst for economic development, amplifying trade opportunities for upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The Sonamura terminal in Tripura will enhance trans-boundary trade between India and Bangladesh, while the Karimganj and Badarpur terminals will power trade opportunities.’
The newly inaugurated Bogibeel terminal, constructed with an investment of nearly ₹50 crore, includes cargo & passenger berths, approach & internal roads, transit shed, open storage area, truck parking area, and a passenger waiting area. Additionally, an integrated officer for Immigration, Customs & IWAI at Bogibeel is being constructed at a cost of ₹18 Crore. Furthermore, a project for bank protection and Extension of jetty at Bogibeel Terminal, costing ₹12 Cr, will also commence soon.
The IWT terminal at Sonamura, developed with an investment of ₹6.91 crore, holds the potential to attract trans-boundary trade including commodities like bagged cement, horticulture, and consumer products between India and Bangladesh. Similarly, the upgraded terminals at Karimganj and Badarpur, completed with an investment of ₹6.40 crore, will ease and increase export activities.
Moreover, the Minister announced the deployment of 6 tourist jetties on National Waterways 2 (River Brahmaputra) and 2 Electric Hybrid Catamarans at Guwahati by August 2024. These initiatives, developed with an investment of ₹8.45 crore for the jetties and ₹36 crore for the catamarans, will enhance tourism infrastructure and introduce green energy in inland waterways.
Highlighting the strategic importance of these projects, Sonowal noted, ‘Under the visionary leadership of Government’s, our rich web of waterways is being developed with major projects. Modi Ki Guarantee is powering the waterways of the North East towards Viksit Bharat.’
Sonowal also announced the commencement of dredging operations in the North East by the Dredging Corporation of India, facilitating seamless movement of cargo and passengers in the National Waterways of the North-East. The dredging operations will cover key stretches of NW-2 and NW-16, ensuring constant and adequate draft for transportation.
Under the Sagarmala program, aimed at the development of the North-Eastern states, projects exceeding ₹1,000 crore have been initiated, with a particular focus on enhancing inland waterways in Assam, where projects exceeding ₹760 crore are underway.
The Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) prioritizes the expansion of port infrastructure, including the development of six mega ports with capacities exceeding 300 and 500 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). Additionally, MoPSW aims to boost the share of Inland Water Transport (IWT) to 5% by 2030 as part of the Maritime India Vision (MIV),signaling a comprehensive effort towards fostering maritime sector growth and connectivity enhancement.
