Union minister for ports, shipping, and waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal on February 20 unveiled multiple projects worth Rs 308 crore for the development of inland waterways at a programme in Guwahati.
Among other projects, Sonowal inaugurated Passenger-Cargo Terminal at Bogibeel worth Rs 46.60 crore, Inland Water Transport Terminal at Sonamura worth Rs 6.91 crore, upgraded terminals at Karimganj and Badarpur worth Rs 6.40 crore.
The event was simultaneously held at Bogibeel in Dibrugarh, Badarpur in Karimganj, IWAI port in Dhubri as well as Sonamura in Tripura.
During the event at Pandu port in Guwahati, the Union minister announced six Jetties at various locations on River Brahmaputra worth Rs 8.45 crore, 19 passenger vessels for National Waterway-2 and National Waterway-16 worth Rs 25 crore, and Extension of Jetty, integrated office and bank protection worth Rs 30 crore.
Speaking on the occasion, Sarbananda Sonowal said that these infrastructural developments were poised to significantly augment connectivity within the Northeast region, facilitating smoother movement of both passengers and cargo.
He claimed that since the BJP government came to power, the National Waterways Development Project has been executed more efficiently and within the specified timeframe.
Transformation through Transportation in the #NorthEast!
Delighted to inaugurate and launch projects worth more than ₹308 crore for development of waterways at Pandu Port in Guwahati.
These infra additions at Bogibeel in Dibrugarh, Dhubri, Jogighopa and Sonamura in Tripura… pic.twitter.com/ZSRFRnCBtI
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) February 20, 2024
Eight dredgers have been arranged for the dredging of National Waterway 2 and National Waterway 16, the Union minister added.
Sonowal mentioned that within the next 10 years, 1,000 ships and ferries operating on national waterways will be converted into green transport.
He alleged that the country’s waterways were neglected during the Congress rule. But during the 10 years of BJP rule, the country’s waterways have seen unprecedented development.
MP Queen Oja, Assam transport minister Parimal Suklabaidya, MLAs Siddhartha Bhattacharyya and Ramendra Narayan Kalita were present at the Pandu event while Union minister of petroleum & natural gas and labour employment, Rameshwar Teli joined in the programme from Dibrugarh. In Sonamura, the event was attended by Tripura minister Sushanta Chowdhury among others. .
