GUWAHATI, NOV 21: The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has signed MoUs and project agreements worth over ₹3,000 crore at the India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025, marking one of the biggest infrastructure pushes for Inland Water Transport (IWT) in the Northeast. As part of the larger regional strategy, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, placed special emphasis on accelerating studies and DPRs for developing inland waterway connectivity in Manipur, including the Barak River system and the Imphal and Nambul rivers—projects that are seen as critical for integrating the landlocked state with national and cross-border trade routes.
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During a comprehensive review of 15 major projects and 10 ongoing Central Sector Scheme initiatives across the Northeast, Sonowal directed officials to fast-track Manipur’s Techno-Economic Feasibility studies. The proposed IWT development aims to improve year-round navigation, enhance cargo logistics, and enable new passenger routes that link Manipur to regional waterways feeding into Bangladesh and mainland India.
Alongside Manipur’s developments, the IMW saw the signing of two flagship MoUs that will significantly transform Assam’s river-based transport and industrial logistics ecosystem. The first agreement between IWAI and Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited (APL) seeks to transport Methanol and Formalin through the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route and national waterways. With APL producing nearly two lakh tonnes of Methanol and over one lakh tonnes of Formalin annually, the new arrangement will enable large-volume, cost-efficient exports from jetties at Bogibeel, Pandu and Jogighopa to Bangladesh and Southeast Asia. IWAI will extend full operational support—including terminal facilities, navigation assistance and development of flat-bottom tanker barges—under an estimated investment of ₹400 crore.
The second major MoU, signed between IWAI and the Government of Assam, paves the way for a large-scale Water Metro project in Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Tezpur. Designed as an integrated, eco-friendly urban transport network across the Brahmaputra, the system will be supported by electric-hybrid boats, new passenger terminals, navigation aids and fairway development. A feasibility study is currently underway by Kochi Metro Rail Ltd. The project is expected to cost approximately ₹1,000 crore, excluding land acquisition.
Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said the new agreements reflect the transformative vision of the Union Government to turn the Northeast into a hub of waterway-led growth. “We remain anchored in our intent to convert the immense potential of our rivers into opportunities for trade, tourism and sustainable mobility. Under the leadership of our Prime Minister, we are witnessing a new era of connectivity and industrial resurgence across the region,” he said.
Several high-value MoUs were also announced to expand tourism and cargo capacity along the major rivers of Assam. IWAI signed an agreement worth ₹500 crore with Heritage River Journeys Pvt. Ltd. to introduce new cruise vessels and bolster premium cruise tourism on the Brahmaputra and other waterways. Another MoU with Rhenus Logistics, valued at ₹1,000 crore, will facilitate modern tug-barge operations on the Ganga and Brahmaputra, strengthening multimodal logistics for the Northeast. Investments worth ₹299 crore have been earmarked for developing cruise terminals at Neamati, Silghat, Biswanath Ghat and Guijan, enhancing the region’s tourism footprint. In addition, projects worth ₹188 crore for establishing a Regional Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh, and ₹55 crore for developing key land parcels in Guwahati, mark Assam’s growing prominence as a centre for training, innovation and infrastructure planning.
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Navigation safety on the Brahmaputra also received a boost with a dedicated MoU between IWAI and the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) to establish river lighthouses at Bogibeel, Silghat, Biswanath Ghat and Pandu. These lighthouses will serve dual roles—providing essential operational safety for vessels while emerging as potential eco-tourism sites, further enriching river-based tourism in the state.
Beyond Assam, a series of strategic projects is underway across Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. In Mizoram, IWAI is pushing ahead with IWT studies on the Tlawng and Chhimtuipui rivers, alongside Stage-I construction of a major project on the Khawthlangtuipui–Tuichawng stretch in Lunglei district. The project includes terminals at Thekaduar and Tlabung, floating jetties and modern passenger boats, enabling safer mobility for remote communities.
In Nagaland, DPRs are being prepared for creating IWT and water sports infrastructure at Doyang Lake, Noune and Shilloi Lakes—an effort aimed at combining transport needs with tourism and adventure potential. Meghalaya is witnessing similar studies, with DPRs underway for developing waterway infrastructure on Umiam Lake and the Umngot River, known for its international appeal as one of India’s cleanest rivers.
Tripura is set to benefit from the development of the Gumti River and its navigational linkage with Bangladesh’s Meghna river system under a ₹24.53-crore initiative. The project will include floating pontoon terminals, navigational aids and extensive bank protection to enable reliable regional cargo movement. Additionally, a proposal is being studied to introduce a cruise service on Dumbur Lake in Dhalai district, tapping into the state’s growing tourism potential.
Arunachal Pradesh, with its expansive river systems, has seen a fresh proposal for developing IWT infrastructure on the Siang River. Planned facilities include passenger terminals, floating jetties, solar-powered infrastructure, internal roads and leisure boats to support transport and tourism in the frontier state.
Sonowal noted that these collective efforts across the Northeast represent a decisive shift in India’s approach to regional development—one that leverages the unique geography and river systems of the region. “Our investments, which will exceed ₹5,000 crore in the coming years, are unlocking new economic corridors, boosting trade with neighbouring countries and reviving the rich river culture of the Northeast. Inland waterways are emerging as a lifeline of opportunity for our people,” he said.
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The initiatives, spread across all seven Northeastern states, signify a major step toward operationalising the region’s waterways as engines of economic transformation. With increased cross-border connectivity, modern navigation systems, new passenger and cargo routes, and the rise of cruise tourism, the Northeast is entering a new chapter of river-led growth—anchored in sustainability, industrialisation and enhanced regional mobility.