India's Northeast to Get Major Boost with é 5,000 Crore Investment in Inland Waterways and Maritime Infrastructure

Strategic Insights -

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has announced a series of initiatives to transform the connectivity, trade, tourism, and employment landscape of India's Northeast region with a massive investment of é 5,000 crore. The projects aim to develop year-round navigable waterways, modern terminals, community jetties, urban water metros, and maritime skill hubs across the region, positioning it as a vibrant hub for waterways-based trade, tourism, and employment. Empowering the youth of the Northeast is a key highlight of the plan, with the training of 50,000 youth in maritime skills over the next decade.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Modi government has drawn up comprehensive plans to develop year-round navigable waterways, modern terminals, community jetties, urban water metros, and maritime skill hubs across the Northeast region with an investment of é 5,000 crore.
  • The Maritime Skill Development Centre (MSDC) in Guwahati and a new Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Dibrugarh will train 50,000 youth in maritime skills over the next decade, generating at least 500 jobs annually.
  • The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has undertaken projects worth é 1,000 crore in the region's inland waterways sector in the past two years, with é 300 crore worth of works completed and é 700 crore scheduled for completion by 2025.
  • 85 community jetties will be built across the Northeast to boost local trade and connectivity, and a fleet of 100 modern barges operated by German logistics major Rhenus is expected to become operational on National Waterways 2 and 16 by 2025.
  • The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) will be fully operational by 2027, providing the Northeast with direct and shorter access to international sea routes and unlocking new trade opportunities for Northeast India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar.
  • Water Metro projects for modern urban transport have been proposed for Guwahati, Tezpur, and Dibrugarh, with feasibility studies already completed, and lighthouses will be installed at Pandu, Tezpur, Biswanath, and Bogibeel.

Statistics:

  • É 5,000 crore investment outlay for inland waterways and maritime infrastructure projects in the Northeast region.
  • É 1,000 crore worth of projects undertaken in the region's inland waterways sector in the past two years.
  • É 300 crore worth of works completed and é 700 crore scheduled for completion by 2025.
  • 50,000 youth to be trained in maritime skills over the next decade.
  • 500 jobs to be generated annually by the Maritime Skill Development Centre (MSDC) and the new Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Dibrugarh.
  • 85 community jetties to be built across the Northeast to boost local trade and connectivity.
  • 100 modern barges operated by German logistics major Rhenus expected to become operational on National Waterways 2 and 16 by 2025.
  • Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) to be fully operational by 2027.

Sources:

  • Government of India (4)
  • Contify.com