Modi Govt Unveils ₹5,000 Cr Waterways Boost for Northeast: Sarbananda Sonowal

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Monday announced a ₹5,000 crore initiative aimed at strengthening waterways infrastructure in Northeast India. Central to this initiative is the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP), which Sonowal described as the “lifeline for the region” and a cornerstone of India’s Act East Policy.

The Kaladan Project, a key component of the India–Myanmar Friendship Treaty, is expected to become fully operational by 2027. The strategic trade route will start from Kolkata, connecting to Sittwe Port in Myanmar via the sea, continue through inland waterways to Paletwa, and then via road to Zorinpui in Mizoram. The project is designed to create an alternative corridor to the Siliguri Corridor, ensuring better connectivity between Northeast India and Southeast Asia. Additionally, the route is expected to benefit Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal by significantly reducing logistics costs and transit times.

Once operational, cargo from Kolkata will pass through Teknaf Port in Bangladesh before reaching Sabroom in Tripura, where an integrated customs post already exists. The corridor will facilitate Myanmar’s exports—including rice, timber, seafood, and garments—and also allow for the import of construction goods such as cement and steel. Sonowal emphasized that the project fits into Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of inclusive growth and regional development, as it offers direct sea access to the Northeast and aims to position the region as a gateway to Southeast Asia.

In addition to the Kaladan project, Sonowal outlined a comprehensive roadmap for regional development. Over the past two years, ₹1,000 crore has been invested in infrastructure such as cargo terminals, dredging activities, and restoration of heritage sites in Dibrugarh.

Looking ahead, the government plans to deploy 100 barges on National Waterways 2 and 16 by 2025, through logistics firm Rhenus, and invest ₹610 crore in 10 new dredgers (amphibian and cutter-section). These efforts are intended to enhance inland water transport (IWT) capacity and improve efficiency in cargo movement.

To generate employment, the Centre will train 50,000 youth from the Northeast in maritime skills over the next decade. Institutions like the Maritime Skill Development Centre in Guwahati and a new Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh (₹200 crore) are expected to create at least 500 jobs annually. Sonowal underlined the goal of equipping youth with world-class maritime competencies for sustained employment and economic upliftment.

Feasibility studies for Water Metro systems in Guwahati, Tezpur, and Dibrugarh have been completed, and similar IWT infrastructure expansion is underway in Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura, including efforts to boost water-based tourism.

Future plans include developing cruise tourism, community jetties, cargo terminals, and smart lighthouses with advanced weather forecasting systems. Concluding his address, Sonowal reaffirmed the central government’s commitment to transforming the Northeast into a hub of trade, tourism, and employment through sustainable waterway development, driven by Modi ji’s Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas vision.