Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has announced a Rs 5,000 crore Central government investment to enhance inland waterways and maritime infrastructure in Northeast India.

Key initiatives include year-round dredging, new cargo terminals, tourist jetties, heritage restoration, and lighthouses across states like Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, and Nagaland. Over Rs 1,000 crore worth of projects are already underway, with Rs 300 crore completed. To strengthen cargo logistics, 100 barges by German firm Rhenus and 10 advanced dredgers will be deployed on National Waterways 2 and 16.

Additional plans include 85 community jetties and Rs 300 crore investment in tourist/cargo jetties. The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Project is nearing completion, enhancing connectivity between Myanmar and Northeast India. Water Metro projects are proposed for Guwahati, Tezpur, and Dibrugarh. 

Also, a maritime skill development program will train 50,000 youth from the region over the next decade, with new centres in Guwahati and Dibrugarh—expected to generate 500 work roles annually. The Rs 200 crore Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh will be a training hub.