Shillong, Mar 2: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated three major inland waterways infrastructure projects on National Waterway-2, the Brahmaputra River.
The inaugurated projects include customs and immigration complexes at Bogibeel and Dhubri, along with a renovated heritage building of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) in Dibrugarh. Each facility is designed to boost logistics, enhance passenger movement, and unlock new opportunities for trade and tourism in the Northeast.
According to Sonowal, these developments signify a dynamic governance model aimed at rapid growth while honouring cultural heritage. The newly established facilities at Bogibeel and Dhubri will integrate customs, immigration, and IWAI administrative functions to improve operational efficiency along NW-2 and facilitate trade under the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol routes.
Moreover, the renovated building at Dibrugarh combines restoration of architectural features with upgraded operational infrastructure. Officials said the building will serve IWAI’s administrative requirements on NW-2 while also contributing to riverine tourism and preserving the region’s architectural legacy.
Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, 20 rivers in the Northeast have been declared National Waterways, with the Brahmaputra (NW-2), Barak (NW-16), Dhansiri (NW-31) and Kopili (NW-57) are being actively developed.
