Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Sunday announced that 50,000 people from the Northeast region will be employed in India’s maritime sector over the next ten years.
Addressing a press conference at Vivanta in Guwahati, Sonowal said the government has already set up the Northeast Skill Development Centre to train local youth, while a state-of-the-art maritime training institute is under development in Dibrugarh. The institute will function as a centre of excellence.
“Under the Maritime India Vision 2030, our aim is to make India one of the world’s top 10 shipbuilding nations by 2030 and among the top five by 2047. This aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming India into a leading maritime nation. Major shipping companies are now keen to invest here, and this will generate massive employment opportunities, especially for the Northeast,” Sonowal said.
As part of efforts to enhance inland navigation and safety, Sonowal announced plans to build four lighthouses along the Brahmaputra River — in Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Silghat, and Biswanath. These lighthouses will not only help guide vessels but will also function as weather forecasting centres and tourist attractions.
“We are coordinating with the Ministry of Earth Sciences to roll out this initiative soon,” he added.
The Union Minister also highlighted growing global interest in India’s inland waterways. He said that Germany-based Rhenus Logistics Pvt Ltd recently conducted a three-month feasibility study on the Brahmaputra, Barak, and Ganga rivers.
“They found these rivers highly viable for shipping. The company plans to operate Burgess ships starting this year. Within two years, 100 such vessels will be deployed, with operations kicking off from November,” he said.
Sonowal further announced plans to introduce a water metro service in Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and Tezpur, aimed at tapping into the region’s tourism potential.
“This will let tourists experience the stunning Brahmaputra and Assam’s natural beauty through safe and modern waterway transport,” he said.
To improve inland connectivity, the Ministry has approved the construction of 85 community jetties along the Brahmaputra. These jetties will facilitate the movement of passenger ferries, cargo vessels, and other boats, significantly boosting transport and trade across the state.
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