In a landmark step towards reviving Assam’s river-based trade and promoting sustainable logistics, National Waterway-57 (River Kopili) was officially operationalised with the launch of its first cargo trial movement. The inaugural run saw a vessel depart from Govardhan Bridge in Chandrapur, Kamrup, bound for Hatsingimari in South Samara — marking the first intra-state freight movement via waterways in over a decade.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal hailed the event as a “watershed moment” for inland water transport in Assam and the Northeast. The self-loading cargo vessel MV VV Giri transported 300 metric tonnes of cement from M/s Star Cement along a 300-kilometre route covering the Kopili River (NW-57) and Brahmaputra (NW-2), completing the journey in roughly 12 to 14 hours.

With this development, more than 1,168 kilometres of national waterways are now operational in Assam, enhancing the state’s logistics capabilities and offering an environmentally friendly alternative to road transport.

“This is a turning point for Assam,” said Sonowal. “Reviving NW-57 not only reconnects a long-lost trade artery, but also helps build a cost-effective and sustainable inland water transport system. For decades, our river routes were overlooked — today, with cargo now moving on the Brahmaputra (NW-2), Barak (NW-16), Dhansiri (NW-31), and Kopili (NW-57), we are unlocking new opportunities for prosperity.”

Under the Government of India’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and PM Gati Shakti programme, IWAI — the Inland Waterways Authority of India — has focused on building multimodal transport infrastructure. Assam, with its extensive river network, has emerged as a key state in these efforts.

Highlighting the environmental and economic benefits, the Minister added, “Replacing road transport with inland waterways reduces emissions, eases congestion, and cuts logistics costs. Today’s cargo run replaces about 23 truckloads of cement — that’s the tangible impact of efficient water-based freight systems.”

This is the first cargo trial on the 46-kilometre stretch of NW-57 since 2014 and represents a crucial milestone in Assam’s logistics transformation. The move supports India’s larger vision for integrated transport corridors and economic decentralisation across the Northeast.

Sonowal concluded, “Kopili cargo movement represents the new Assam — connected, confident, and aligned with India’s growth ambitions. We will continue to scale cargo and passenger operations across our rivers, making waterways the backbone of regional development.”