Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated an elevated road corridor connecting Pandu Port to National Highway 27 in Guwahati and launched multiple infrastructure projects worth Rs 526 crore aimed at strengthening inland waterways and tourism along the Brahmaputra River.
The projects include the elevated corridor at Pandu Port, the foundation stone for cruise terminals at Biswanath Ghat and Neamati Ghat, and the bhoomi pujan for a Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE) at Bogibeel.
The projects are being implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to boost infrastructure along National Waterway 2.
Speaking at a programme held at the Jyoti-Bishnu Auditorium, Modi said Assam is emerging as a model for the future of the Northeast, often referred to as Ashtalakshmi.
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“Assam today is becoming a model for the new future of our Northeast, Ashtalakshmi. The progress here is giving new momentum to the entire Northeast,” the Prime Minister said.
Highlighting the potential of river tourism, Modi said the cruise terminals being developed along the Brahmaputra would create new economic opportunities for local communities.
“Tourism in Assam is no longer limited to travel and sightseeing. It is becoming a new engine of local development and public prosperity,” he said, adding that the projects would benefit local youth, artisans, small shopkeepers, boat operators and those working in hospitality and transport.
The Prime Minister also noted that cruise tourism would make it easier for domestic and international tourists to explore the region.
The elevated corridor connecting Pandu Port to NH-27 has been built at a cost of ₹180 crore and is designed to address the last-mile connectivity gap between the river port and the national highway network.
The corridor will help bypass urban congestion in Guwahati, improving port connectivity and reducing logistics costs for cargo movement along National Waterway-2.
The cruise terminals at Biswanath Ghat and Neamati, with a combined investment of ₹158 crore, are aimed at strengthening passenger movement and promoting cruise tourism along the Brahmaputra.
Meanwhile, the Regional Centre of Excellence at Bogibeel in Dibrugarh is being developed at a cost of ₹188 crore. The centre will serve as a maritime skill development hub and is expected to train more than 5,000 students annually in vessel operations, inland navigation and maritime logistics.
The facility will also include research and development infrastructure to support training and capacity building for India’s expanding inland waterways sector.
The event was attended by Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Governor of Assam; Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam; and Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, among other dignitaries.
Sonowal said the projects reflect the Centre’s vision of transforming the Northeast through connectivity and sustainable transport.
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“The Brahmaputra has always been the lifeline of the Northeast, but its potential as an engine of economic growth remained underutilised. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, inland waterways are emerging as an economical and environment-friendly mode of transportation,” Sonowal said.
He added that the projects would strengthen logistics, boost tourism and generate employment opportunities across Assam and the wider Northeast.
Together, the four projects aim to enhance trade, tourism, skill development and regional connectivity along the Brahmaputra, aligning with the government’s broader vision of developing the river as a key logistics and tourism corridor for the Northeast.
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