FCC

River Terminals Boost Trade, 76 National Waterways in N-E by 2027

2025-11-26

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal stated that newly developed river terminals and jetties across Assam — including Pandu, Jogighopa, Dhubri, Bogibeel, Karimganj and Badarpur — are strengthening trade routes and enabling cross-border movement of goods. He added that the Northeast is on course to operationalise seventy-six national waterways by 2027.

Cargo volumes on the Sadiya–Dhubri stretch of National Waterway-2 have risen significantly, with annual movement approaching six lakh tonnes as navigation, turnaround times and reliability improve. Inland water transport is contributing to lower logistics costs, reduced fuel consumption and shorter transit distances, particularly for petroleum products and heavy-industrial cargo moving towards Bangladesh and adjoining regions.

The minister highlighted that dredging, fairway development and year-round channel maintenance have enabled seamless movement of over-dimensional cargo to installations such as the Numaligarh Refinery, strengthening the region’s energy-security framework.

Projects worth more than Rs 100 million have been executed in the Northeast over the past two years, covering permanent cargo terminals, ship-repair facilities, tourist jetties and urban ferry systems. With the planned expansion to seventy-six waterways by 2027, the Northeast is being positioned as a key multimodal logistics gateway for eastern India and onward international trade.

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