Centre announces ₹5,000 crore investment to boost northeast waterways: Sarbananda Sonowal

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has announced a comprehensive ₹5,000 crore plan to transform the waterways and maritime infrastructure in India’s Northeast region.

Key initiatives under this investment plan include the establishment of two major maritime skill development centres — one in Guwahati and another in Dibrugarh — aimed at training 50,000 youth over the next decade.

Additionally, the project will see the development of 85 community jetties and the deployment of 100 modern cargo barges by 2025 to boost inland water transport. A separate allocation of ₹610 crore has been made for deploying dredgers to ensure uninterrupted navigability on the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers throughout the year.

Another significant milestone under the plan is the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, which will connect India’s Northeast to Myanmar through Mizoram. Scheduled for completion by 2027, this project is expected to open new trade corridors linking India with Southeast Asia.

The government has also earmarked ₹300 crore for tourism infrastructure development, including cruise terminals, jetties, and lighthouses at strategic locations along the region’s waterways.

Speaking about these developments, Sonowal said the initiatives are aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Act East’ policy, aiming to make the Northeast a key hub for trade, tourism, logistics, and employment generation.

“These efforts will not only boost economic activity in the region but also improve livelihoods and open up new avenues for connectivity with neighbouring countries,” the Minister remarked.