In its 197th board meeting, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, approved a comprehensive development plan for National Waterway-2 (River Brahmaputra) and cleared key infrastructure proposals to enhance inland water transport (IWT) in the Northeast.The three-year plan for NW-2 includes fairway development, terminal infrastructure, navigation aids, green energy integration, vessel operations, dry docking, and the establishment of a maritime skill development centre in Assam. These initiatives are part of broader efforts to promote IWT in India’s North-Eastern Region (NER), with over Rs 15 billion in projects currently underway.A key decision includes the construction of a link road connecting the upcoming Ship Repair Facility to the Pandu Terminal. This road will facilitate the transport of heavy machinery and ensure smooth connectivity between Pandu Port and National Highway-27.The IWAI Board also approved amendments to the 2022 Classification of National Waterways Regulations, rationalising the distance between navigation channels and jetty edges to improve operational efficiency.In addition, IWAI has commissioned IIT Madras’ National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC) to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the extension of National Waterway-64 (River Mahanadi) from Sambalpur barrage in Odisha to Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh. The study will also explore the feasibility of establishing MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) facilities in Hirakud.The board further approved the creation of new posts at IWAI following recommendations from the National Institute of Smart Government (NISG) on organisational restructuring.IWAI also briefed the board on ongoing IWT initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir, including the development of river navigation infrastructure across three national waterways—NW-84, NW-49 and NW-26.These decisions reflect IWAI’s continued commitment, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, to transform India’s rivers into engines of economic growth and sustainable transport.