Inland waterways strengthen energy transport backbone for NE
Modernised river routes boost trade corridors and connectivity
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New Delhi: The Inland Waterways sector today stands as the backbone of energy transportation for the northeast, reinforcing India’s energy security and unlocking new trade corridors, according to Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal.
He said the rapid modernisation of India’s inland waterways, particularly in the northeast, is set to unlock major economic opportunities and strengthen the petroleum supply chain and export routes connecting Assam to Bangladesh and Southeast Asia.
Sonowal said that annual cargo movement on NW-2 is now approaching 6 lakh tonnes, driven by faster turnaround and reliable navigation. “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the renewed focus on Inland Water Transport (IWT) has enabled smooth and swift cargo movement, reduce logistics costs and provide a reliable multimodal network for the movement of petroleum products and industrial cargo across the Brahmaputra and Barak river systems,” said the minister.
