India operationalises National Waterway-57

This marks the resumption of inter-state freight transport in Assam.

India has commenced operations at the National Waterway-57 (River Kopili) with the first-ever cargo trial run from the Govardhan Bridge in Chandrapur, Kamrup to Hatsingimari in South Samara.

“The movement marks the resumption of intra-state waterborne freight transport in Assam after more than a decade,” India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said.

The cargo vessel MV VV Giri, equipped with self-loading capacity, carried 300 metric tonnes of cement from M/s Star Cement along the 300-kilometre route on the Kopili River and Brahmaputra river, with a voyage time of approximately 12 to 14 hours.

“With the resumption of cargo movement on four National Waterways of Assam — on Brahmaputra (NW 2), Barak (NW 16), Dhansiri (NW31) & Kopili (NW 57) — we have made 1,168 kilometres of waterways operational,” said Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal.

The minister also noted that shifting freight movement from road to waterways helps reduce emissions, ease road congestion, and lower logistics costs.