The central government will invest an additional Rs 10 billion in inland waterways projects across Assam and the Northeast by 2026, Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced on Monday.

Reviewing the progress of ongoing initiatives with senior officials from the ministry, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Public Works Department (PWD), Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Limited (IPRCL), and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Sonowal reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to transforming the region into a key maritime hub.

In the past two years, projects worth Rs 10 billion have been sanctioned for the Northeast Region (NER), of which Rs 3 billion worth of work has been completed. The remaining Rs 7 billion in projects are expected to be finalised by 2025.

The government is focusing on infrastructure development along National Waterways 2 (Brahmaputra) and 16 (Barak), including new passenger vessels, terminal construction, and skill development. Sonowal also instructed officials to train local youth with advanced maritime skills to meet industry needs.

The minister reviewed the proposed Inland Water Transport (IWT) project at Doyang Lake and assessed the tourism potential of Noune and Shilloi lakes in Nagaland. He also evaluated feasibility studies for IWT projects on the Tiawng and Chhimtuipui rivers in Mizoram, as well as the Umiam Lake and Ummgot River (NW106) in Meghalaya.

On the Barak River, Sonowal confirmed that dredging, survey operations, and floating terminals at Karimganj and Badarpur underscore the Centre’s commitment to positioning the Northeast as a vital part of India’s maritime future.