IWAI initiates Brahmaputra dredging survey

By Admin

16 Jun, 2025

Reviving hopes for improved inland water transport in Northeast India

After over seven years of anticipation, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has finally launched the much-awaited dredging survey of the Brahmaputra River. The survey commenced at Bogibeel on Saturday, marking a pivotal step toward enhancing navigability on one of India’s most vital yet underutilized waterways.

Critical stretch identified at Bogibeel

The IWAI team has begun operations on a crucial 300-metre stretch of the river, a zone flagged for its increasingly difficult navigational conditions. This segment has long posed significant challenges to ferry, cruise, and cargo operations. The survey marks the beginning of physical groundwork, with actual dredging operations expected to follow soon after its completion.

Long-delayed but hopeful beginnings

This initiative stems from a project first announced in 2017, when the initial survey for dredging the Brahmaputra was formally inaugurated in Dibrugarh by Sarbananda Sonowal, then Chief Minister of Assam and now the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The project aimed to transform the Brahmaputra into a reliable inland waterway, promoting trade, river tourism, and regional connectivity across Assam and the Northeast.

From promise to progress

Despite the initial fanfare, little progress was made for years. The current action at Bogibeel, though modest in scale, is being widely seen as a critical breakthrough. It has rekindled optimism among local communities, transport operators, and regional planners alike. The effort represents a tangible move toward realizing the long-envisioned goal of making the Brahmaputra a functional and sustainable river transport corridor.

Looking ahead

If the survey and subsequent dredging succeed as planned, it could dramatically improve river transport efficiency, reduce logistic costs, and unlock new economic opportunities in the region. As IWAI begins this journey, the spotlight returns to one of India’s grandest river projects, now inching closer to delivering on its promise.