India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has unveiled an ambitious ₹5,000‑crore investment package aimed at transforming the inland waterways and maritime landscape of India’s Northeast over the next decade. Announced by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in New Delhi on July 7, 2025, these initiatives are designed to enhance cargo connectivity, boost regional trade, develop tourism infrastructure, and equip 50,000 local youth with maritime skills and guaranteed employment opportunities by 2035.
A Decade of Maritime Skill Development
Central to the plan is a comprehensive skill‑development drive that will train 50,000 young people from Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Mizoram in maritime trades. Sonowal detailed that the existing Maritime Skill Development Centre (MSDC) in Guwahati, alongside a new ₹200‑crore Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Dibrugarh, will serve as training hubs capable of producing up to 500 skilled professionals annually. Graduates will find assured placements across government and private maritime operations, reflecting the government’s commitment to converting “Yuva Shakti” into economic growth.
Strengthening Inland Waterways Infrastructure
Over the past two years, MoPSW has mobilized ₹1,000 crore for inland waterways projects in the region, completing ₹300 crore worth of work and scheduling the remaining ₹700 crore for completion by 2025. Key achievements include:
- Permanent Cargo Terminals at Pandu, Jogighopa, Dhubri, Bogibeel, Karimganj, and Badarpur.
- Year‑Round Fairway Dredging, supported by 10 amphibian and cutter section dredgers to be deployed with a ₹610‑crore outlay, ensuring navigability of the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers through all seasons.
- Approach Road to Pandu Port, enhancing last‑mile connectivity.
- Heritage Restoration projects in Dibrugarh to preserve colonial‑era port infrastructure.
- Tourist Jetties worth ₹299 crore to bolster river‑based tourism.
- 85 Community Jetties, aimed at strengthening local linkages and small‑scale river transport.
- Plans for Lighthouses at Pandu, Tezpur, Biswanath Ghat, and Bogibeel, each to house an India Meteorological Department (IMD) unit for localized weather forecasting.
Kaladan Multi‑Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP)
A marquee project highlighted at the press conference was the Kaladan Multi‑Modal Transit Transport Project, forged under the India–Myanmar Friendship Treaty. Scheduled for full operation by 2027, KMTTP will connect Sittwe Port in Myanmar to Paletwa via inland waterway, followed by a road link to Zorinpui in Mizoram, and onward to Sabroom in Tripura through Teknaf Port in Bangladesh. Once operational, the corridor is expected to:
- Slash transportation time and logistics costs by roughly 30–40%.
- Open shorter maritime access for Northeast India to Southeast Asian markets.
- Offer new export channels for Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar.
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This strategic initiative underpins Prime Minister Modi’s “Act East” policy and underscores the government’s broader vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” by fostering regional connectivity across international borders.
Barges, Dredgers, and Water Metro
To further enhance cargo movement, MoPSW has partnered with global logistics major Rhenus to operate 100 barges on National Waterways (NW) 2 and 16 by the end of 2025. Complementing the dredgers, this barge fleet is anticipated to boost commercial traffic on Assam’s River network by 50% within two years. In parallel, feasibility studies for Water Metro projects in Guwahati, Tezpur, and Dibrugarh have been completed, setting the stage for modern urban water‑based public transport akin to Kolkata’s successful model.
Tourism and Trade Hub Development
Recognizing the rivers’ potential for tourism, the government has earmarked ₹300 crore to develop combined tourism and cargo jetties at Silghat, Neamati, Biswanath Ghat, and Guijan. These multipurpose terminals will feature:
- Passenger lounges and floating markets to attract domestic and international tourists.
- Dedicated cargo handling zones to promote local agricultural and handicraft exports.
- Integrated customs clearance facilities at border terminals to streamline Indo‑Bangladesh trade.
With these, the Northeast is poised to emerge as a vibrant hub for river cruises, water sports, and cross‑border commerce, complementing land and air connectivity.
National and Global Competitiveness
Reflecting on the 11‑year trajectory since 2014, Sonowal noted that India’s major ports have nearly doubled capacity, nine ports now feature in the World Bank’s top 100 global rankings, and Visakhapatnam Port has broken into the top 20. Legislative digitization, green shipping policies, and a burgeoning cruise tourism sector have collectively boosted India toward its goal of becoming a “global maritime powerhouse.” The Northeast investment program is the next frontier in this maritime resurgence, aligning local development with national strategic imperatives.
Looking Ahead
As the ministry accelerates project execution, local stakeholders from port authorities to community organizations are optimistic about the socio‑economic wave effects. Enhanced waterways are expected to reduce road congestion, lower carbon emissions, and create thousands of jobs in construction, logistics, tourism, and allied services. With the government’s “Sabka Prayas” approach, the Northeast’s rivers are set to become lifelines of growth, linking remote communities to national and international markets through clean, cost‑effective, and reliable waterborne transport.
The ₹5,000‑crore commitment thus represents more than just infrastructure spending; it is a strategic investment in the region’s future, offering a blueprint for balanced growth, sustainable connectivity, and inclusive prosperity.
Source : (pib.gov.in)
