After a prolonged wait of over seven years since its initial announcement, survey work for dredging the Brahmaputra River finally commenced at Bogibeel on Saturday. A team from the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has begun operations on a specific 300-metre stretch of the river, which has been identified as a critical zone for immediate dredging.
According to sources, the actual dredging work is expected to start soon after the completion of the survey. The selected stretch at Bogibeel has reportedly become increasingly difficult for navigation, posing challenges for ferry, cruise, and cargo services. The dredging is anticipated to significantly ease navigation and improve river transport efficiency in the area.
The initial survey for dredging the entire Brahmaputra was formally inaugurated on January 24, 2017, in Dibrugarh, by the then Chief Minister of Assam and current Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal. The project was envisioned as a transformative initiative to enhance navigability, promote inland water transport, boost river tourism, and strengthen connectivity throughout Assam, the Northeast, and the broader region.
Despite the project’s early announcement, no visible progress had been made on the ground until now. Although modest in scope, the current dredging effort is being viewed as a significant and hopeful first step. It has reignited public expectations for the realization of the larger, long-pending project aimed at turning the Brahmaputra into a sustainable and efficient inland waterway corridor.