The central government will deploy two luxury cruise ships worth ₹250 crore on the Brahmaputra River, alongside operationalising 100 cargo vessels on the Brahmaputra, Barak and Ganga, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced on Tuesday.
Addressing the media during a roadshow in Guwahati, held as part of the run-up to India Maritime Week 2025, Sonowal said the cruise ships, being built at Hooghly Cochin Shipyard in Howrah, Kolkata, will be launched in 2027 under the Cruise Bharat Mission, giving a major boost to Assam’s river tourism.
On cargo movement, he said a Germany-based company, Rhenus Logistics Pvt Ltd, has found the three rivers viable for navigation and will operate 100 cargo vessels from this year following a recently signed MoU. “This will make the waterways busier and more economically vibrant,” Sonowal noted.
The minister also confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the keynote address at the Global Maritime CEO Forum during India Maritime Week, scheduled from October 27–31 in Mumbai. The mega event is expected to draw participation from more than 100 countries and 100,000 stakeholders.
Highlighting the Northeast’s role in India’s maritime roadmap, Sonowal announced:
A ₹239 crore ship repair facility at Pandu, the first in the region, to be ready by 2026.
A ₹180 crore dedicated approach road linking NH-27 to Pandu Port by September 2025.
₹299 crore for new tourist jetties at Guijan, Neamati, Bishwanath Ghat and Silghat.
A ₹188 crore Regional Centre of Excellence at Dibrugarh to train 5,000 maritime professionals.
He added that more than ₹1,000 crore has already been invested in inland waterway infrastructure in the Northeast, with several projects nearing completion.
Looking ahead, Sonowal said India Maritime Week 2025 will unveil investment opportunities worth nearly ₹1 trillion across shipbuilding, port-led connectivity, coastal community development and eco-friendly logistics.
“This is the decade of maritime resurgence for India,” he said. “By 2047, our target is to handle 10,000 MMT of EXIM cargo and 500 MMT through inland waterways, making India one of the world’s top five shipbuilding nations with a 20% share in global ship recycling.”
The Guwahati roadshow – Water Voyage Northeast 2025 – was jointly organised by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the Indian Ports Association (IPA), drawing more than 240 stakeholders, including cruise operators, cargo owners and traders.
