NewKerala.com

Northeast's Waterway Revival: How River Routes Are Fueling Economic Growth

The rapid modernization of India's inland waterways is transforming the northeast's economic landscape. These revamped river routes are strengthening petroleum supply chains and creating new trade corridors with Bangladesh and Southeast Asia. Key terminals in Assam have become critical hubs for cross-border trade, significantly reducing transit times and costs. With annual cargo movement approaching 6 lakh tonnes and major infrastructure investments, waterways are proving to be a sustainable logistics solution for the region.

Key Points: Inland Waterways Boost Northeast Economy and Energy Security

  • Annual cargo movement on NW-2 approaches 6 lakh tonnes with faster turnaround times
  • Key Assam jetties like Pandu and Jogighopa serve as critical cross-border trade hubs
  • Over-dimensional cargo transport demonstrates waterways' operational efficiency
  • Government invested Rs 1,000 crore in northeast waterway projects over two years
2 min read

Revamped Inland Waterways to unlock major economic opportunities in northeast

Revamped inland waterways in northeast India are unlocking major economic opportunities, strengthening petroleum supply chains, and creating new trade corridors with Bangladesh and Southeast Asia.

"This has not only revived one of the oldest and proven conduits of economic prosperity but also repurposed the economic activity and prosperity in the hinterland of the region. - Sarbananda Sonowal"

New Delhi, Nov 21

The Inland Waterways sector today stands as the backbone of energy transportation for the northeast, reinforcing India’s energy security and unlocking new trade corridors, according to Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal.

He said the rapid modernisation of India’s inland waterways, particularly in the northeast, is set to unlock major economic opportunities and strengthen the petroleum supply chain and export routes connecting Assam to Bangladesh and Southeast Asia.

Sonowal said that annual cargo movement on NW-2 is now approaching 6 lakh tonnes, driven by faster turnaround and reliable navigation.

“Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the renewed focus on Inland Water Transport (IWT) has enabled smooth and swift cargo movement, reduce logistics costs and provide a reliable multimodal network for the movement of petroleum products and industrial cargo across the Brahmaputra and Barak river systems,” said the minister at the ‘North East Oil and Gas Conclave 2025’.

“This has not only revived one of the oldest and proven conduits of economic prosperity but also repurposed the economic activity and prosperity in the hinterland of the region,” the minister noted.

The minister said that jetties and terminals in Assam — including Pandu, Jogighopa, Dhubri, Bogibeel, Karimganj and Badarpur — have emerged as critical hubs for cross-border trade. These river terminals facilitate the export of petroleum products and large industrial consignments to Bangladesh and onward destinations, cutting transit distance, travel time and fuel consumption compared to road transport.

Sonowal highlighted that the transport of over-dimensional cargo (ODC) to Numaligarh Refinery for its expansion, and the ongoing movement of petroleum products using river routes, have demonstrated the operational efficiency and scalability of waterways as a long-term logistics solution.

Year-round navigation ensured through extensive dredging and fairway maintenance enables uninterrupted movement of heavy cargo for refinery, exploration and downstream industries.

The minister said the government has undertaken Rs 1,000 crore worth of inland waterway projects in the northeast in the past two years, including permanent cargo terminals, ship repair facilities, tourist jetties and urban water transport systems.

Sonowal noted that a number of major projects have been undertaken for the northeast by the ministry in the past few years. He said that 76 national waterways will become operational by 2027.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Great initiative but I hope the environmental impact on Brahmaputra is properly studied. Dredging and increased traffic could affect river ecology and local communities dependent on fishing.
R
Rohit P
Connecting Northeast to Bangladesh and Southeast Asia through waterways is a game-changer! This will reduce our dependence on the Chicken's Neck corridor and strengthen regional trade. 🇮🇳
S
Sarah B
The economic potential is huge, but I hope the benefits reach the common people and not just big corporations. Local entrepreneurs should get opportunities in this development.
V
Vikram M
Reducing logistics costs by 30-40% compared to road transport is massive for industries in the Northeast. This will make our products more competitive in international markets. Well done!
M
Michael C
Impressive progress! 6 lakh tonnes cargo movement shows the scalability. Hope they maintain the infrastructure properly and ensure safety standards are met for hazardous cargo like petroleum.
A
Ananya R
As a business owner in Guwahati, I can already see the positive impact. Our shipping costs have reduced significantly since the waterways became operational. More power to such initiatives! 💪

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50