Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced a ₹5,000 crore roadmap for the development of inland waterways in the Northeast over the next five years. Chairing a meeting of the Consultative Committee on Inland Waterways Transport in Mumbai, Sonowal highlighted the government’s commitment to transform India’s logistics ecosystem through enhanced waterway infrastructure.
The meeting, attended by Members of Parliament and officials from the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), reviewed ongoing projects and future plans under the Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. The IWAI presented updates on key initiatives and revealed that 76 waterways are targeted to be operational by 2027, with cargo volume expected to reach 156 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by March 2026.
Currently, inland waterways span 11 states. This footprint is projected to expand to 23 states and 4 Union Territories by FY 2027. Projects worth ₹1,400 crore were announced or launched during the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) meeting in January 2025. Additionally, IWAI is conducting 10,000 km of monthly surveys to assess navigability and ensure adequate depth in waterways.
In the Northeast, major developments are underway on NW-2 (Brahmaputra), NW-16 (Barak), and NW-31 (Dhansiri). Permanent terminals at Dhubri, Jogighopa, Pandu, and Bogibeel, along with 13 floating terminals, are being supported through fairway development. A ₹208 crore ship repair facility at Pandu and a ₹180 crore road project are scheduled for completion by 2026 and 2025, respectively. Terminals at Karimganj and Badarpur on NW-16 are active, and work on NW-31 will support Numaligarh Refinery’s expansion.
A 4,067-km Regional Waterways Grid connecting Varanasi to Dibrugarh, Karimganj, and Badarpur through the IBP route is in development to improve vessel movement. A DPR for upgrading the Jangipur navigation lock is underway, with projected cargo potential of 32.2 MMTPA by 2033.
On NW-1 (Ganga), a 1,390-km corridor is being upgraded for 1,500–2,000 DWT vessels, with major cargo handling terminals coming up at Varanasi, Kalughat, Sahibganj, and Haldia.
Sonowal emphasized the importance of green transport, stating that IWAI is adopting the Harit Nauka Guidelines and investing in electric and hydrogen-powered vessels. Water metro projects and eco-cruise tourism are also being promoted for sustainable urban connectivity.
The minister said, “These efforts mark a transformative phase in India’s maritime and logistics sectors under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Through cooperative federalism and increased budgetary support, we are building a future-ready and green inland waterways network.”
Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur added that river cruise tourism is expanding, with 15 circuits currently operational across 13 National Waterways. The number of cruise terminals has risen, and three world-class terminals—including one under construction in Kolkata—are planned. Feasibility studies for terminals in Varanasi and Guwahati are also ongoing.
Additional cruise terminals at Silghat, Bishwanath Ghat, Neamati, and Guijan are expected to be developed by 2027. Plans for 51 new cruise circuits on 47 NWs are also in place.
The meeting was attended by MPs including Shatrughan Prasad Sinha (West Bengal), Bibhu Prasad Tarai (Odisha), Hibi Eden (Kerala), M.K. Raghavan (Kerala), Naba Charan Majhi (Odisha), Abhimanyu Sethi (Odisha), and Seema Dwivedi (Uttar Pradesh). They endorsed the progress and called for continued investment to unlock the full potential of inland water transport in India.
