Centre unveils ₹3,000-cr waterway projects in Assam

The Central government is all set to take up ₹3,000 crore projects to further improve waterways and transportation infrastructure in Assam in the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers to boost trade in the entire northeastern region and neighbouring states. The Union government is working out modalities for improving navigability, transportation, trade and commerce of the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers to achieve scalable height in trade and commerce. The state's CM has stressed the need of re-strengthening the existing transport facilities and utilizing the optimum potential of the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers as they have served as the lifeline of trade and commerce as well as connectivity since the British period and provided connectivity with neighbouring countries. The mega project would encompass all critical areas like development of multimodal logistic hubs with last-mile connectivity, passenger and cargo terminals, and construction of new jetties, among others. The state government while assuring total cooperation, informed that once fully implemented, the entire 891-km stretch of the Brahmaputra from Sadiya to Dhubri, and Barak would receive new lease of life in providing gateways to neighbouring countries which would also catapult to the success of the 'Act-East Policy'.