Centre plans project to develop inland water transport in Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Government of India has planned waterways infrastructure for the development of Inland Water Transport (IWT) on National Waterway no. 2 (NW-2) and National Waterway no. 16 (NW-16) in Assam at Rs 1,010 crore which will help to promote industries on the banks of the rivers Brahmaputra (NW-2) and Barak (NW-16).

This was revealed in a report of the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The report further stated that the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) will implement this project.

Among the activities planned on NW-2 to have seamless connectivity are ship repair facilities at Pandu port. The total cost of the project is Rs 208 crore. A dedicated road connecting NH-27 to Pandu port is being developed to have seamless connectivity to port. The cost of the project is Rs 180 crore. Two floating jetties are being installed at Bogibeel and Guijan. The total cost of the project is Rs 8.26 crore. Feasibility report for development of cargo terminal at Bogibeel on NW-2 is being prepared. The approximate cost of the project is Rs 46 crore. A permanent jetty is also being developed at Jogighopa. The work has been awarded to NHIDCL on deposit work basis. The cost of the project is Rs 68 crore.

River Barak from Lakhimpur to Bhanga (121 km) was declared as NW-16 in March 2016. The total length of the stretch is 121 km. The activities planned on NW-16 will be executed in two phases. Phase-I is likely to be completed by 2025. An amount of Rs 145 crore has been approved for the development of NW-16 and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route during the year 2020-21 to 2024-25.

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