Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the progress of major inland waterway and port-linked projects across the Northeastern region. Senior officials from the ministry and representatives from Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya participated in the discussions.
Aligned with the Government of India’s PM Gati Shakti – National Master Plan for multimodal connectivity, the meeting highlighted critical initiatives aimed at strengthening regional transport, trade and tourism.
Tripura–Bangladesh Waterway Link Moves Forward
A major focus area was Tripura, where the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is implementing two significant connectivity and tourism-driven projects.
A sanctioned project worth ₹24.53 crore will establish a direct waterway link between the Gomati river in Tripura and the Meghna river in Bangladesh. The project includes channel development, embankment protection and construction of nine jetties along the cross-border route.
The ministry is also prioritising a proposal to launch a luxury cruise service at Dumbur Lake, aimed at boosting tourism in the state.
MoUs to Strengthen Assam’s Inland Water Network
During the meeting, IWAI signed two MoUs—one with Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited and another with the Government of Assam—to enhance industrial supply chains and improve passenger movement using the state’s extensive river systems.
Sonowal said the agreements mark a significant step toward realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of developing the Northeast as a major hub of inland waterway connectivity and industrial growth.
Arunachal Pradesh: Push for Siang River Infrastructure
A proposal was also presented for developing inland water transport infrastructure on the Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh. The project envisions terminals equipped with jetties, internal roads, navigational systems, solar installations and floating platforms. The plan also provisions high-speed boats, ferries and FRP vessels to support tourism and passenger mobility.
Commitment to Regional Growth
Sonowal reiterated the Centre’s commitment to unlocking the economic potential of the Northeast through sustainable river-based connectivity. He stressed that the development of waterways will play a transformative role in enhancing trade, tourism and industrial growth across the region.
