Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, has recently revealed ambitious plans to propel India's maritime sector, particularly focusing on the Northeast region. These initiatives encompass significant investments, infrastructure development, skill enhancement, and strategic collaborations aimed at transforming the region into a vibrant hub for trade, tourism, and employment.
A cornerstone of these plans is a substantial investment of ₹5,000 crore dedicated to boosting waterways and the maritime sector in the Northeast. This financial commitment will fuel various projects designed to improve connectivity, enhance cargo handling capabilities, and promote tourism.
Several key initiatives are underway to achieve these goals. These include expanding the capacity of the Maritime Skill Development Centre (MSDC) in Guwahati and establishing a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Dibrugarh with an investment of ₹200 crore. These centers are projected to generate 500 jobs annually and are central to the vision of training 50,000 youth from the Northeast in world-class maritime skills over the next decade, ensuring meaningful employment and growth.
To support tourism and regional trade, the government will invest ₹300 crore in building new tourism and cargo jetties at Silghat, Neamati, Biswanath Ghat, and Guijan. Furthermore, Water Metro projects are planned for Guwahati, Tezpur, and Dibrugarh, with feasibility studies already completed. The government will also set up lighthouses at Pandu, Tezpur, Biswanath, and Bogibeel, each equipped with IMD centers, to provide accurate local weather forecasts.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has already undertaken projects worth ₹1,000 crore in the Northeast's inland waterways sector over the past two years. ₹300 crore worth of works have been completed, with ₹700 crore slated for completion by 2025. These include setting up permanent cargo terminals at Pandu, Jogighopa, Dhubri, Bogibeel, Karimganj, and Badarpur, constructing new approach roads to Pandu Port, undertaking heritage restoration works in Dibrugarh, and developing tourist jetties worth ₹299 crore.
To ensure uninterrupted navigation on major river routes, the government will deploy 10 amphibian and cutter section dredgers at an investment of ₹610 crore. Additionally, a fleet of 100 modern barges operated by German logistics major Rhenus is expected to become operational on National Waterways 2 and 16 by 2025, significantly enhancing cargo movement across Assam and neighboring states. 85 community jetties will be constructed across the Northeast to boost local trade and connectivity.
Sonowal also provided an update on the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP), a crucial link connecting India's Northeast with Myanmar, stating that the project would be fully operational by 2027. This initiative will provide the Northeast with direct and shorter access to international sea routes and unlock new trade opportunities for Northeast India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar, strengthening regional ties with Southeast Asia.
These initiatives align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Act East" policy and vision of inclusive growth, transforming the Northeast into a key hub for trade, tourism, and employment. The development of inland waterways in the Northeast region, connecting it to the rest of India via Bangladesh, has been a particular focus.
India's ports are becoming globally competitive, with nine ranking in the World Bank's top 100, and Visakhapatnam Port reaching the top 20. These developments signify India's rise as a global maritime powerhouse, driven by historic growth in port capacity and cargo handling, green shipping initiatives, cruise tourism, and skill development for the youth.
Sarbananda Sonowal has been reappointed as the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, demonstrating the government's continued commitment to these ambitious maritime plans.
