Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced a significant Rs. 4,800 crore investment plan to transform Assam’s inland waterways during the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit. The initiative aims to boost water transport and align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat.”

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• The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, unveiled a Rs. 4,800 crore plan for Assam’s inland waterways.
• The plan aims to transform Assam’s water transportation system, boosting riverine trade and tourism.
• A key component of the plan is the allocation of Rs. 1,500 crore for the transition to green vessels under the ‘Harit Nauka Scheme’ by 2030.
• Rs. 315 crore has been allocated for developing a world-class water metro service in Guwahati and Dhubri, set to revolutionize urban transportation along Assam’s waterways.
• The project includes the establishment of a Regional Centre of Excellence (RCOE) in Dibrugarh with Rs. 120 crore.
• Rs. 100 crore will be used to construct riverine lighthouses at five strategic locations along the Brahmaputra for safer navigation.
• The Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) will maintain a 2.5-meter draft for smoother waterway operations from the Bangladesh border to Pandu with Rs. 191 crore.
• Sonowal emphasized that the inland waterways will help decongest railways and roads while promoting eco-friendly transport.
• The Sagarmala scheme will contribute Rs. 646 crore for constructing riverine infrastructure along the Brahmaputra.
• The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is implementing Rs. 1,010 crore worth of projects along the Brahmaputra (NW2) and Barak (NW16).
• The recently inaugurated Inland Waterways Terminal (IWT) at Jogighopa is part of this broader transformation.