India is advancing inland waterway navigation with the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, laying the foundation for four river lighthouses along the Brahmaputra River. This initiative, the first of its kind for inland waterways, took place in Guwahati and involves collaboration between the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). The lighthouses, located at strategic points like Bogibeel, Pandu, Silghat, and Biswanath Ghat, will enhance navigation on National Waterway-2 (NW-2), crucial for the region’s cargo and passenger transport.
Each lighthouse, standing 20 meters tall with a range of 14 nautical miles, is designed to operate on solar energy. The total project investment is approximately ₹84 crore, with each site including facilities such as museums, amphitheaters, and recreational areas to promote tourism. The project responds to a significant increase in cargo movement on the Brahmaputra, vital for Assam’s tea, coal, and fertilizer industries.
Minister Sonowal emphasized the economic importance of waterways, stating that they provide substantial cost advantages and reduced carbon emissions compared to road transport. He pointed out that the upcoming lighthouses will ensure safe year-round navigation, contributing to a resilient supply chain. The initiative originated from a feasibility study led by the Minister’s Office, resulting in a Memorandum of Understanding between IWAI and DGLL to implement the project.
The lighthouses are expected to be completed within 24 months following contract award and will facilitate safer night navigation, enhancing operational capabilities on the river. The DGLL and IWAI play crucial roles in managing India’s extensive network of waterways, which encompasses over 20,000 kilometers, ensuring effective cargo and passenger movement across the nation’s inland waterway systems. This project marks the beginning of a broader program aimed at modernizing inland navigation infrastructure in India.
