Varanasi to Dibrugarh Waterway in the Works for Efficient Goods Transportation

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, announced efforts to establish a dedicated waterway from Varanasi to Dibrugarh via Haldia port for economical goods transportation. In an interview with The Assam Tribune, Sonowal outlined India’s ambitions to become a leading global maritime player.

Key points from the interview include:

• Two new major ports are planned, one on the Bay of Bengal and another on the Arabian Sea.
• India is utilizing three ports in Bangladesh and has undertaken a port project in Iran.
• Waterways are critical, handling 96% of India’s export and import volume and 70% by value.
• Investment proposals worth Rs 10 lakh crore were received at the recent global maritime summit in Mumbai.
• Specific schemes for the Northeast are underway, including efforts to use waterways for transporting goods like food, fertilizers, and petroleum.
• Dredging projects on the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers aim to ensure year-round navigability, addressing challenges posed by seasonal river drying.
• Collaborative dredging efforts with Bangladesh have resolved depth issues on a crucial 200-km river stretch, ensuring smooth cargo vessel movement.

Sonowal emphasized the importance of waterways in India’s economic development and the government’s commitment to enhancing maritime infrastructure.