The central government plans to invest Rs 50 billion to boost the waterways and maritime sector in the northeast region. The government also aims to train 50,000 youth from the region in maritime skills over the next decade, providing them employment opportunities in the sector. In this regard, the Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh (investment of Rs 2 billion) and the Maritime Skill Development Centre in Guwahati will be developed.
Over the past two years, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has undertaken projects worth Rs 10 billion in the northeast’s inland waterways sector. Of which, Rs 3 billion worth of projects have been completed and Rs 7 billion worth of projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The key projects include permanent cargo terminals at Pandu, Jogighopa, Dhubri, Bogibeel, Karimganj and Badarpur; year-round fairway dredging; a new approach road to Pandu Port; heritage restoration in Dibrugarh; tourist jetties; skill development centres at Guwahati and Dibrugarh; etc. Meanwhile, feasibility studies have been completed and found feasible for operation in Guwahati, Tezpur and Dibrugarh, and cruise vessels are being procured under central schemes. Efforts are also being made to expand inland water transport infrastructure and promote water-based tourism, in Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.
The Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport project is likely to become fully operational by 2027. This project will enhance connectivity between Myanmar and India’s northeast region.
The MoPSW also plans to deploy 10 amphibian and cutter section dredgers, with an investment of Rs 6.1 billion, and develop 85 community jetties across the Northeast to improve local connectivity. Also, 100 barges will be deployed on the national waterway (NW) 2 and NW 16 by 2025. Further, Rs 3 billion will be invested to build new tourism and cargo jetties at Silghat, Neamati, Biswanath Ghat and Guijan.