Dibrugarh, Feb 28: In a major boost to Northeast India’s inland water transport, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Saturday inaugurated three critical projects along the Brahmaputra River, underscoring Assam’s strategic importance in India’s waterway network.
The projects include state of the art Customs and Immigration Complexes at Bogibeel and Dhubri, along with the restored Heritage Building of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) near Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh. All are located on National Waterway-2 (NW-2), the Brahmaputra corridor facilitating passenger and cargo movement across Assam.
Speaking at Chowkidingee field, Sonowal described the Brahmaputra as “the lifeblood of Assam and the Northeast,” adding that these initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to economic development while preserving cultural heritage.
“These projects transform the Brahmaputra into a vibrant economic corridor, reducing logistics costs, enhancing connectivity, and empowering local communities,” the minister said, highlighting upper Assam’s potential as a hub for trade, tourism, and logistics.
The Bogibeel Customs and Immigration Complex integrates customs, immigration, and IWAI operations, featuring passenger lounges, cargo storage, administrative offices, parking facilities, and security systems. A 50m x 20m jetty extension and reinforced riverbank ensure improved berthing capacity. The facility is expected to facilitate trade under the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol routes, making Bogibeel a strategic gateway for upper Assam.
The Dhubri terminal, equipped with dedicated regulatory sections, conference spaces, and staff amenities, aims to strengthen cross-border trade with Bangladesh and Bhutan, fostering regional integration.
Meanwhile, the renovated IWAI Heritage Building in Dibrugarh combines cultural preservation with modern administrative facilities, supporting river cruise tourism and operational management along NW-2.
IWAI chairman Sunil Paliwal said, “With enhanced fairway development, regular dredging, and upgraded terminals, NW-2 is steadily becoming a reliable, year-round navigation channel. These projects will streamline cargo and passenger movement while ensuring efficient regulatory processes.”
Vijay Kumar, secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, praised Sonowal’s leadership in modernizing inland waterways. Assam ministers Prasanta Phukan, Bimal Borah, and Jogen Mohan attended the inauguration.
The developments align with the National Waterways Act, 2016, which designates 111 rivers, including 20 in the Northeast, as National Waterways, with the Brahmaputra leading in operational projects for cargo and passenger services.