Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates Three Projects

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated three major inland waterways infrastructure projects in Dibrugarh on National Waterway-2 (River Brahmaputra), underscoring what he described as a balanced approach of “Vikas and Virasat” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

The projects include the Customs and Immigration Complex at Bogibeel, the Customs and Immigration Complex at Dhubri, and the renovated Heritage Building of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) at Dibrugarh.

The programme, held at Chowkidingee Field, was attended by Assam Power Minister Prasanta Phukan, Public Works Minister Jogen Mohan, Industries and Commerce Minister Bimal Borah. MP Rameswar Teli, MLAs Terash Gowalla, Chakradhar Gogoi, Binod Hazarika, Ponakan Baruah, Taranga Gogoi, Sanjoy Kishan, and Bhaskar Sharma were also present, along with Vijay Kumar, IAS, Secretary, MoPSW and Sunil Paliwal, Chairman, IWAI, among other senior officials of the Ministry and IWAI.

Addressing the gathering, Sonowal said the projects reflect the dynamic governance model of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that seeks rapid development without losing cultural identity.

Vijay Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Sunil Paliwal, IAS, Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India, highlighted the government’s initiatives to strengthen inland waterways as a viable alternative mode of transport and to revive traditional river-based connectivity for promoting trade and tourism. They expressed confidence that the infrastructure being developed on National Waterway–2 would further accelerate efforts to position the Northeast as an engine of growth. (UPDATED ON 27TH FEBRUARY 2026)