Guwahati, Feb 26: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced a ₹4,800 crore investment in Assam over the next five years to enhance waterways and related infrastructure. At the ‘Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit’, Sonowal emphasized the Centre’s vision of positioning India as a leading maritime nation by 2030.
The funds will be utilized to develop ship repair facilities, construct alternate roads for ports, and enhance terminals. Additionally, a Centre of Excellence in Maritime Education will be established in the state, aiming to train 5,000 skilled youth annually for the shipping industry.
Highlighting the role of waterways in economic growth, Sonowal noted that since 2014, the sector has received a significant boost under the BJP-led government. He outlined initiatives for developing ocean-river routes and strengthening connectivity through National Waterways 2 (Brahmaputra) and 16 (Barak).
Key investment highlights include:
₹1,500 crore allocated for transitioning to green vessels under the ‘Harit Nauka’ scheme by 2030. ₹1,500 crore for boosting cruise tourism and cargo handling capacity in NW2 and NW16 by 2027-28. ₹375 crore for Phase II development of the Ship Repair Facility at Pandu. ₹191 crore earmarked for maintaining a 2.5-meter draft from the Bangladesh border to Pandu under the supervision of the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) till 2026-27. ₹315 crore allocated for launching water metro services in Guwahati and Dhubri, with feasibility studies based on the success of the Kochi Metro.Sonowal, a former Assam Chief Minister, emphasized Assam’s immense potential in the waterways sector due to its river network, particularly the Brahmaputra and its tributaries. He reiterated that Assam could emerge as a leading state in maritime infrastructure development with proper focus and resources.
