The agreements seek to strengthen Assam’s inland water transport network and industrial logistics.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency for the development of waterways, has signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to strengthen Assam’s inland water transport network and industrial logistics, marking a major step in advancing sustainable connectivity and regional growth. The agreements with Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd. (APL) and the Government of Assam have been formalised under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also chaired a comprehensive review meeting in Guwahati, assessing projects across Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland, and Meghalaya, including those under the Central Sector Scheme (CSS).
The first MoU between IWAI and APL focuses on transporting methanol and formalin via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR) and national waterways. Exports will be facilitated from IWAI jetties at Bogibeel, Pandu, and Jogighopa to Bangladesh and Southeast Asia, while domestic supply chains will be strengthened through National Waterways‑1 and 2.
APL currently produces 198,000 metric tonnes of methanol and 115,000 metric tonnes of formalin annually. The new arrangement, backed by a ₹4 billion investment, will enable bulk, cost‑effective, and eco‑friendly transportation. IWAI will provide operational and technical support, including navigation assistance, firefighting systems, and facilities at its terminals. It will also help APL develop ten flat‑bottom tanker barges with capacities between 500 and 1,000 metric tonnes.
Urban Water Transport for Assam
The second MoU, signed with the Assam government, aims to develop an urban water transport (UWT) system or a water metro for Tezpur, Guwahati, and Dibrugarh. The project will integrate water‑based mobility along the Brahmaputra with existing road, rail, and bus networks.
The UWT initiative will include fairways, navigation aids, and passenger terminals, supported by electric hybrid passenger boats. A feasibility study is being undertaken by Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) in consultation with the state government. The tentative project cost is ₹10 billion, excluding land costs.
Sarbananda Sonowal emphasised, “We remain firmly anchored in our intent to develop the inland waterways ecosystem in the region for optimum utilisation and convert possibilities into tangible opportunities that drive growth, trade, and sustainability.”
The review meeting at the Maritime Skill Development Centre (MSDC), Guwahati, focused on 15 primary projects and ten CSS projects across the Northeast, including three in Mizoram, two in Nagaland, two in Tripura, and one each in Assam, Meghalaya, and Manipur. Two new CSS projects, with one in Arunachal Pradesh and the other in Assam, were also discussed. The meeting cleared a concept study for an all‑weather approach road at Bogibeel to ensure smooth passage to the cargo‑cum‑tourist terminal.