The Inland Waterways Authority of India is undertaking infrastructure projects worth over ₹1,000 crore across Assam, Tripura and other Northeastern States to strengthen inland water transport, trade and multimodal connectivity.

What is Being Developed?

The projects are focused mainly on NW-2 (Brahmaputra) and  NW-16 (Barak), while integrating waterways with roads, railways and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route.

• A ₹283.33-crore ship repair facility at Pandu, Guwahati is under construction, with civil works almost complete.
• A ₹207.65-crore Regional Centre of Excellence at Dibrugarh is being developed to strengthen technical and institutional capacity.
• A ₹158-crore tourist jetty at Bishwanath Ghat and a cargo-cum-cruise terminal at Neamati Ghat will support river tourism and cargo movement.
• A ₹143-crore fairway development project is improving navigability between the Bangladesh border and Pandu on the Brahmaputra.
• On the Barak River, ₹41.67 crore is being spent on fairway maintenance between Bhanga and Badarpur.
• Infrastructure at Badarpur and Karimganj is also being upgraded through berthing and crane pontoons.
• Community jetties in Tripura, passenger vessel projects and amphibian dredgers are expected to improve water connectivity across the Northeast.

Why is it Important?

The expansion of inland waterways can provide the Northeast with a cost-effective and environmentally efficient transport option, while improving access to markets in mainland India and neighbouring countries.

Cargo movement on National Waterway-2 increased from 0.43 million tonnes in 2021–22 to 1.29 million tonnes in 2025–26. Commodities transported include coal, foodgrains, fertilisers, cement, petroleum products, fly ash and stone aggregates.

The development therefore supports regional integration, logistics efficiency, tourism and economic growth, particularly by strengthening the Northeast’s links with Bangladesh and the wider Southeast Asian region.

Key Government Framework

• The projects are being implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. 
• They complement India’s broader emphasis on multimodal connectivity and regional integration in the Northeast.

Exam Hook: Prelims

Consider the following pairs:

1. National Waterway-2 — Brahmaputra
2. National Waterway-16 — Barak
3. Pandu — Inland waterway infrastructure hub in Assam

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Answer: 1, 2 and 3.

One-Line Wrap

Strengthening the Brahmaputra and Barak waterways can transform the Northeast from a geographically isolated region into an integrated trade and logistics corridor.