The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), has signed key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth ₹3,000 crore to strengthen inland water transport and industrial logistics in Assam and other Northeast states. The agreements, inked during India Maritime Week 2025, include collaborations with Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd. (APL) and the Government of Assam to enhance cargo and passenger movement through the region’s river systems.
The MoU with APL focuses on transporting Methanol and Formalin via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR) and National Waterways (NW), supporting exports to Bangladesh and Southeast Asia while strengthening domestic supply chains. With an investment of ₹400 crore, the project includes procurement of tanker vessels, development of 10 flat-bottom barges, and operational support from IWAI at Bogibeel, Pandu, and Jogighopa terminals.
The second MoU with the Assam government aims to establish an Urban Water Transport (UWT) system, or Water Metro, in Tezpur, Guwahati, and Dibrugarh. The project envisions electric hybrid passenger boats, modern terminals, and fairway development along the Brahmaputra, integrated with existing road and rail networks. Kochi Metro Rail Ltd. (KMRL) is conducting a feasibility study, with an estimated project cost of ₹1,000 crore (excluding land).
During India Maritime Week, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, chaired a review of ongoing and planned projects across Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland, and Meghalaya, including 15 primary projects and 10 under the Central Sector Scheme (CSS). Key initiatives include concept studies for an all-weather approach road at Bogibeel and development of regional river terminals.
In addition, IWAI signed agreements to expand river cruise tourism with Heritage River Journeys Pvt. Ltd. (₹500 crore) and to enhance navigation safety and tourism on NW-2 in Assam with the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL). A ₹1,000 crore MoU with Rhenus Logistics will modernise tug-barge operations on the Ganga and Brahmaputra, while ₹299 crore has been earmarked for developing cruise terminals at Neamati, Silghat, Biswanath Ghat, and Guijan.
Regional projects across the Northeast are progressing in Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh, covering passenger and cargo terminals, floating jetties, river cruises, and river-based tourism. Investments under these initiatives are expected to exceed ₹5,000 crore, aimed at enhancing connectivity, trade, and tourism.
Speaking at the event, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “These MoUs and ongoing projects mark a significant step in realising the vision of PM Shri Narendra Modi to transform the Northeast into a hub of inland waterway connectivity, trade, and sustainable growth. Our rivers are becoming engines of economic opportunity and regional integration.”
The initiatives reflect a comprehensive effort to operationalise the economic potential of the Northeast’s rivers, strengthen cargo and passenger movement, promote tourism, and integrate the region more closely with national and international markets.
