Assam took a decisive step towards reviving its once-thriving riverine trade network as Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday flagged off the first cargo trial run on National Waterway-57 (NW-57), located on the Kopili river. The resumption of intra-state cargo transport via waterway marks a significant shift in regional logistics, coming more than a decade since such movement last took place within the state.
The cargo vessel, MV VV Giri, departed from Govardhan bridge in Chandrapur, Kamrup district, bound for Hatsingimari in South Salmara-Mankachar. The vessel carried 300 tonnes of cement, travelling approximately 300 kilometres via the Kopili and Brahmaputra rivers, with a voyage time of 12 to 14 hours. The vessel is equipped with a self-loading mechanism.
"This is a watershed moment for Assam. With the operationalisation of NW-57 on River Kopili, we are not only reviving a lost artery of trade within the state but also taking a major step towards building an inland water transport system that is economical, efficient and environmentally sustainable," Sonowal said while addressing the gathering at the launch site.
The minister noted that, historically, Assam had a vibrant network of river-based transport which gradually diminished in the post-Independence years. “For far too long, the rich interweb of riverine transportation remained neglected. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India has placed a strong focus on revitalising our inland waterways to create multimodal logistics corridors,” he remarked.
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The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Sonowal informed, is spearheading multiple projects to harness the commercial and ecological benefits of Assam’s rivers. With NW-57 joining operational river routes such as Brahmaputra (NW-2), Barak (NW-16), and Dhansiri (NW-31), more than 1,168 kilometres of National Waterways are now active in the state.
He highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of shifting freight from roadways to rivers. “By shifting freight movement from road to waterways, we reduce emissions, ease road congestion and lower logistics costs, all while making better use of our natural resources. Today's trial run replaces roughly 23 truckloads of cement, that's the power and potential of inland water transport,” Sonowal said.
The 46-km long NW-57 stretch had not witnessed cargo movement since its notification in 2014. Saturday’s flag-off is expected to be a turning point in re-establishing river-based intra-state freight movement across Assam.
The development is aligned with the central government’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and the PM Gati Shakti initiative, both aimed at building sustainable and integrated logistics infrastructure across India. Authorities say further cargo operations are expected in the coming months, with greater private participation and logistical integration on the anvil.
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