Chandrapur: The Kopili River, designated as National Waterway-57 (NW-57), was operationalised today, with a cargo trial run carrying 300 metric tonnes of cement, marking the first such movement since 2014. The self-loading vessel MV VV Giri travelled a 300-kilometre route from Govardhan Bridge in Chandrapur, Kamrup, to Hatsingimari in South Salmara, covering 46 kilometres of NW-57 and the Brahmaputra River (NW-2) in approximately 12 to 14 hours. This development resumes intra-state waterborne freight transport in Assam after more than a decade, reviving the state’s river-based trade.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal hailed the event as “a watershed moment for Assam,” stating, “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. For far too long, the rich interweb of riverine transportation remained neglected post-independence.” He confirmed that 1,168 kilometres of National Waterways—Brahmaputra (NW-2), Barak (NW-16), Dhansiri (NW-31), and Kopili (NW-57)—are now operational, offering an effective alternative to road transport.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, is driving multiple projects to unlock the navigational potential of Northeast rivers. Sonowal emphasised that the Government has placed a “strong focus” on revitalising our inland waterways to create multimodal logistics corridors. “Assam is an important state in this regard as IWAI is working on multiple projects to unlock value across our riverways. From Brahmaputra to Barak, from Dhansiri to now Kopili, this is only the beginning to power the growth of the region with empowered inland waterways,” he said.
The trial run demonstrates the potential of inland water transport to reduce emissions, ease road congestion, and lower logistics costs. Sonowal noted, “Today’s trial run replaces roughly 23 truckloads of cement—that’s the power and potential of inland water transport.” The initiative aligns with Maritime India Vision 2030 and PM Gati Shakti, aiming to establish sustainable, integrated transport infrastructure. The minister added, “The Kopili cargo movement is a symbol of the new Assam—connected, empowered, and aligned with India’s growth story. We are determined to build on this success and scale up cargo and passenger movement across all our major rivers. Waterways are not just a mode of transport; they are the arteries of regional prosperity.” This effort supports economic opportunities for riverine communities and Modi’s vision of a thriving, self-reliant Northeast.
– global bihari bureau
