The long-promised river taxi service for Guwahati may have remained unrealised, but a modern water metro system could soon turn that vision into reality. Chairman (In-Charge) of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Sunil Kumar Singh, has said that the project is progressing steadily and could transform public transport along the Brahmaputra within the next few years.
Speaking exclusively to GPlus, Singh said the water metro for Guwahati is “coming up — not because it is easy, but because the city sits by the Brahmaputra.” He explained that India now has a tested model in Kochi and that the historical gap between aspiration and delivery is being bridged through better feasibility, assured funding, and stronger coordination among central, state, and local agencies.
He clarified that a water metro differs significantly from a river taxi. While a river taxi is typically a limited, demand-based service operated privately, a water metro is a planned, scheduled, high-frequency public transport network with standardised terminals, digital ticketing, and full integration with other transport systems such as buses and rail.
According to Singh, IWAI is conducting a feasibility study through a consulting agency to develop urban water metro projects in 18 cities across the country, including Guwahati. Preliminary surveys and hydrological assessments are underway, covering aspects such as navigability, sedimentation, terminal locations, passenger demand, vessel types, and safety planning. The techno-feasibility report for Guwahati is expected by November 2025. Early indications point towards the possible use of electric-hybrid Ro-Pax and fast ferries, subject to dredging and operational requirements.
The proposed Guwahati water metro will primarily serve as an intra-city mass transit network connecting Kamrup Metropolitan district with nearby riverine and peri-urban areas. Corridors could eventually extend to district towns within an hour’s travel distance. Singh acknowledged that the Brahmaputra’s volatile nature during the monsoon would be a key consideration, and operational schedules will be based on seasonal feasibility and safety modelling.
He emphasised that the project will be a collaborative effort between the Centre, the state government, and private partners. While the Centre will provide policy direction, funding, and technical expertise through IWAI and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the state government will handle land acquisition, permissions, and last-mile integration. Private operators may be engaged through public-private partnership (PPP) or operations and maintenance contracts.
The detailed budget for the Guwahati water metro will be finalised after the feasibility and detailed project report (DPR). Funding is expected to come from a mix of central and state allocations, multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, and private investments, ensuring both affordability and operational sustainability.
Singh identified major challenges in implementing the project, including seasonal hydrology and heavy sediment loads, locating safe and accessible terminals, integrating with road and rail networks, maintaining safety during high flows, and ensuring coordination among multiple agencies. He also stressed the need for public awareness and local technical capacity for maintaining electric vessels.
Feasibility studies are also being carried out in other Assam districts such as Kamrup (north-bank areas), Sonitpur (Tezpur), and Dibrugarh (Bogibeel), which have significant populations along the Brahmaputra.
If the Guwahati feasibility study is completed by late 2025 and approvals move swiftly, a pilot corridor could become operational within the next 24 to 36 months, Singh said.
He added that while the water metro is not a “silver bullet,” it represents a high-impact, low-carbon mobility solution that can ease congestion, reduce emissions, reconnect riverine communities, and boost waterfront economic activity. The success of the project, he noted, will depend on sound feasibility, committed funding, strong institutional coordination, and effective community engagement.
As India Maritime Week 2025 focuses on finance models, technical standards, and international partnerships, IWAI aims to turn the Guwahati water metro from an ambitious announcement into a daily commuter reality.
