Nearly eight decades after Independence, Dibrugarh is set to resume international cargo movement through the Brahmaputra, with two vessels carrying 1,080 tonnes of methanol from Bogibeel to Bangladesh. The voyage will mark the beginning of commercial operations at the newly constructed inland water port and represent the first such cargo movement from the city since Independence.

The methanol, produced by Assam Petro-Chemicals at Namrup, will be transported in 54 containers. The two vessels, each around 30 years old, have been prepared for the operation and will carry 27 containers apiece. Each container can hold around 20 tonnes of methanol, allowing each vessel to transport approximately 540 tonnes.

The vessels will cover nearly 783 km from Bogibeel to the Bangladesh border, with the journey expected to take around seven days. The port complex includes a customs office, jetty and warehouse, while construction of a lighthouse and a Regional Centre of Excellence is under way. The facility is being prepared for international water transport through the Brahmaputra.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India said the fully operational port could provide a wider route for moving goods from Assam and neighbouring areas to international markets. Potential cargo includes products from Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer, polymers, petroleum products, coal and goods associated with the tea industry. Agricultural products from Dibrugarh and Upper Assam, including kaji nimbu, bhut jolokia and black pepper, could also gain access to overseas markets.

The development revives Dibrugarh’s historical connection with river-based trade. During British rule, the region was a major trading centre, with goods transported through the Brahmaputra to destinations within India and overseas. The proposed cargo service is expected to create a new trade route for Upper Assam while restoring the river’s role in connecting the region with international markets.