New Delhi (08.07.2025): Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal has announced multiple initiatives by the Government to boost the waterways and maritime sector in the North-Eastern region with an investment of Rs 5,000 crore.

Over the past 11 years, the MoPSW has transformed India’s maritime sector with record growth in cargo handling, capacity and coastal shipping. Major ports have nearly doubled their capacity, cruise tourism is rising with ambitious new terminals, and 50,000 youth from the Northeast will be trained for maritime jobs. Key legislative and digital reforms, green shipping initiatives, and projects like the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project are strengthening regional connectivity and trade. India’s ports are now globally competitive, with nine ranking in the World Bank’s top 100, and Visakhapatnam Port reaching the top 20.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, we have revitalised India’s maritime sector as never before. From historic growth in port capacity and cargo handling to pioneering green shipping, cruise tourism and skill development for our youth — these achievements reflect the Modi government’s unwavering commitment to make India a global maritime powerhouse and drive inclusive development across every coastal and riverine region.”

The Maritime Skill Development Centre (MSDC) in Guwahati as well as the upcoming Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Dibrugarh aims to power this transformation. The CoE will be developed with an investment of Rs 200 crore. Both the centres are likely to produce 500 jobs annually.

The Ministry has undertaken projects worth Rs 1,000 crore in the Northeast’s inland waterways sector over the past two years, with Rs 300 crore works completed and Rs 700 crore slated for completion by 2025. Major initiatives include permanent cargo terminals at Pandu, Jogighopa, Dhubri, Bogibeel, Karimganj and Badarpur; year-round fairway dredging; a new approach road to Pandu Port; heritage restoration in Dibrugarh; tourist jetties worth Rs 299 crore; skill development centres at Guwahati and Dibrugarh; and plans for lighthouses at Bogibeel, Biswanath Ghat, Silghat and Pandu.

Feasibility studies have been completed and found feasible for operation in Guwahati, Tezpur and Dibrugarh, and cruise vessels are being procured under central schemes. For Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, the efforts are on to expand IWT infrastructure and promote water-based tourism. The operationalisation of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR) offers new trade routes bypassing the Siliguri Corridor, strengthening regional connectivity and aligning with the broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Highlighting efforts to support tourism & regional trade, Sarbananda Sonowal shared that Rs 300 crore will be invested to build new tourism and cargo jetties at Silghat, Neamati, Biswanath Ghat and Guijan. In a major move toward modern urban transport, Water Metro projects are planned in Guwahati, Tezpur & Dibrugarh, with feasibility studies already completed. The government will also set up lighthouses at Pandu, Tezpur, Biswanath & Bogibeel, each equipped with IMD centres, with support from the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Govt of India, to provide accurate local weather forecasts.