Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week dedicated to the nation a state-of-the-art elevated road corridor connecting Pandu Port in Guwahati to National Highway-27, while also laying the foundation stone for the Cruise Terminal at Biswanath Ghat and performing the Bhoomi Pujan for the Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE) at Bogibeel, Dibrugarh, and the Cruise Terminal at Neamati. The four projects, being implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), represent a combined investment of `526 crore to boost infrastructure on inland waterways on river Brahmaputra (NW-2).
The Prime Minister announced that the work of building modern cruise terminals at the famous Neamati Ghat and Biswanath Ghat has also commenced from today. PM Modi emphasised that this is not merely an infrastructure project, it is a step that will give a new direction to tourism and the local economy in Assam.
The programme was held at Jyoti-Bishnu Auditorium, Guwahati, in the august presence of Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Mr Sarbananda Sonowal, among other dignitaries.
Prime Minister Modi has consistently recognised the immense potential of inland waterways as an environment-friendly and cost-effective mode for passenger and cargo transport. Under his leadership, a new phase of connectivity and growth has taken shape across the Northeastern states through terminals, jetties and waterways-linked infrastructure that is transforming livelihoods and deepening India’s Act East Policy commitments, emphasised a released.
From a region of promise to a region of progress
Mr Sarbananda Sonowal said the projects inaugurated and initiated were a direct expression of Prime Minister Modi’s vision for a developed and connected Northeast. “Prime Minister Modi ji has done what decades of governance could not — he has turned the Northeast from a region of promise into a region of progress. The Brahmaputra is no longer just a river. Under his leadership, it is becoming a highway of opportunity for millions of people. With his able leadership, the inland waterways are being transformed as the most economical and environment-friendly mode of transportation. Strengthening them has established the path of transformation of India’s logistics sector unlocking new growth opportunities,”
Project highlights
The elevated road corridor connecting Pandu Port Complex to NH-27, built with an investment of `180 crore, addresses the critical last-mile connectivity gap between one of NW-2’s principal river terminals and the national highway network. Engineered to bypass Guwahati’s urban congestion, the corridor ensures seamless two-access to Pandu Port, improving operational flexibility and port connectivity reducing logistic cost considerably.
The Cruise Terminal at Biswanath Ghat, for which the foundation stone was laid, is part of a coordinated effort to build modern cruise infrastructure along the Brahmaputra (NW-2). The terminal will enhance passenger amenities, support river cruise operations and generate fresh economic opportunities for local communities in tourism, hospitality and handicrafts.
The Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE) at Bogibeel in Dibrugarh, for which the Bhoomi Pujan was performed, is being developed with an investment of `188 crore. The first maritime skill development hub of its kind in Northeast India, the RCoE will train over 5,000 students annually in vessel operations, inland navigation and maritime logistics. It will also house research and development infrastructure for crew and trainee programmes, building the skilled manpower base that India’s expanding inland waterways sector requires.
The Cruise Terminal at Neamati, also initiated through a Bhoomi Pujan, will strengthen cruise tourism and organised passenger movement along NW-2, improving infrastructure for tourists and communities along the Brahmaputra corridor. The two cruise terminal projects at Biswanath Ghat and Neamati carry a combined investment of INR 158 crore.
Together, the four projects are designed to boost trade, tourism, skilling, employment generation, reduce logistics cost, and facilitate regional and global connectivity along National Waterway-2, advancing the Government of India’s broader vision for developing Brahmaputra as a transformative logistics and tourism corridor for Assam and the wider Northeast, the release added.
Please visit our youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@ikargos2719 for fortnightly logistics news analysis and more!