The Centre is set to invest nearly ₹4,800 crore in inland waterway and connectivity projects across the northeast over the next five years, aiming to transform the Brahmaputra River into a major economic and logistics corridor.
According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the planned investments will cover community jetties, cargo vessels, dredgers, cruise terminals and related infrastructure to improve last-mile connectivity, logistics efficiency and employment opportunities in riverine regions.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the government, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, is intensifying efforts to develop the Brahmaputra as a “multi-functional economic corridor” for the northeast.
“At the heart of this strategy is the recognition of the Brahmaputra not merely as a river, but as a critical national asset capable of driving connectivity and economic growth across the northeast,” Sonowal said.
The ministry stated that the Inland Waterways Authority of India is continuing efforts to unlock the potential of the Brahmaputra, designated as National Waterway 2 (NW2), which connects Assam and the northeast to Kolkata and Haldia ports through the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR).
The government is also repositioning the Brahmaputra Board as a modern, technology-driven river basin organisation with digital governance systems, data-based project monitoring and the revival of institutions such as the North Eastern Hydraulic and Allied Research Institute (NEHARI).
In Assam, projects worth around ₹751 crore have already been completed, including terminals at Pandu, Dhubri and Jogighopa, along with floating jetties and upgraded shore facilities. Ongoing projects exceeding ₹1,100 crore include fairway development, ship repair facilities, tourist jetties and a Regional Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh.
Sonowal also welcomed the launch of the State Water Reforms Framework (SWRF), aimed at strengthening sustainable water governance and reform initiatives across states.
India’s inland water transport sector has recorded significant growth in recent years, with cargo movement on national waterways rising from 18 million metric tonnes in 2014 to more than 218 million metric tonnes in 2025-26, highlighting the sector’s growing role in the country’s logistics network.