Sarbananda Sonowal opens 3 waterway projects on Brahmaputra

Dibrugarh: Union minister of ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday inaugurated three major inland waterways infrastructure projects on National Waterway-2 (River Brahmaputra), reinforcing what he described as a dual commitment to development and heritage.

The three projects — the Customs and Immigration Complex at Bogibeel, the Customs and Immigration Complex at Dhubri, and the renovated Heritage Building of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) at Dibrugarh — were launched at a programme held at Chowkidingee Playground in Dibrugarh.


“Under PM Modi’s leadership, we are moving ahead with a clear vision of Vikas and Virasat. We are striving toward progress and economic development while preserving our roots, our heritage and our culture. The Brahmaputra is not just a river, it is our lifeline, our history and our future,” Sonowal said.

The Customs and Immigration Complex at Bogibeel has been developed as part of a modern tourist-cum-cargo terminal integrating customs, immigration and IWAI administrative functions within a single complex. The facility features dedicated arrival and departure waiting halls, cargo storage areas, administrative blocks, staff amenities and integrated security systems, aimed at improving operational efficiency and facilitating trade under the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol routes.

The Dhubri Customs and Immigration Complex is designed to enhance regulatory oversight and boost export-import operations in western Assam, positioning the town as a strategic gateway for cross-border commerce with Bangladesh and Bhutan. The renovated Heritage Building at Dibrugarh, meanwhile, blends architectural restoration with upgraded operational infrastructure to serve both IWAI's administrative needs and the cause of riverine tourism.

Taking aim at previous governments, Sonowal said the Brahmaputra's potential had long been squandered. "For six decades, our most precious asset — the mighty Brahmaputra — was neglected and underutilised by the Congress. Today, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are correcting that historic neglect. We are reclaiming the Brahmaputra as a national growth engine," he said.

Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, twenty rivers in the Northeast have been declared National Waterways. Among these, the Brahmaputra (NW-2), Barak (NW-16), Dhansiri (NW-31) and Kopili (NW-57) are being actively developed to unlock the region's vast waterway potential.

The newly inaugurated projects are expected to reduce logistics costs, strengthen cross-border trade, and reinforce the Brahmaputra's role as a sustainable economic corridor for the entire Northeast.