INLAND WATER TRANSPORT IN
NORTH EAST
SHILLONG JUNE 19, 2012
INTRODUCTION

River Brahmaputra-NW-2 (891KM) is the major source of IWT in
NER

Many rivers join this mighty river to form a fish bone like structure

Barak river in Assam is under consideration for declaration as NW-6
(121 km)

Another 1566 km stretch of tributaries of Brahmaputra & Barak
identified in NER for development as State Waterways – Feeder
routes

Indo- B’desh Protocol routes (1700 km) provide alternate
connectivity avoiding rail/road connectivity through already
congested Chicken neck link to NE States

Kaladan multi-modal transport project set to provide alternate route
through Myanmar to NER
2
North Bank
Subanasiri
Burali
Bargang
Dhansiri
Puthimari
Pagladiya
Beki
Manas
Aie
Champamati
Gadadhar
South Bank
Noa dihang
Burhi dihang
Disang
Dikhu
Jhanju
Dhansiri
Kopili
Kulsi
Krishnai
Jinary
SADIYA
SAIKHOWA
DIBRUGARH
BOGIBIL
JAMGURI
TEJPUR
SILGHAT
JOGIGHOPA
DHUBRI
GUWAHATI
PANDU
SHISHUMARA
3
Back
Proposed National Waterway (No 6)
River Barak
Bhanga
Badarpur
Silchar

Stretch
Km
Bhanga - Lakhipur
121
Length –121 km

Development cost -Rs 123 Cr (at 2011 prices)

Status: Declaration in process
4
Back
NAGALAND
TEJPUR
SILGHAT
INDO – BANGLADESH
PROTOCOL ROUTES
P
31C
I
N
D
JOGIGHOPA
DHUBRI
I
A
ASSAM
PANDU
31
DISPUR
37
P
37
36
KOHIMA
DAIKHAWA
31
40
SHISHUMARA
SHILLONG
51
CHILMARI
MEGHALAYA
53
BAHADURABAD
34
MANIPUR
ZAKIGANJ
SYLHET
LAKHIPUR
53
BHANGA
KARIMGANJ
MARKULI
B A N G L A D E S H
GODAGARI
SIRAJGANJ
RAJSHAHI
P
DHULIAN
BAGHABARI
IMPHAL
P
FENCHUGANJ
SHERPUR
AJMIRIGANJ
54
BHAIRAB
BAZAR
ARICHA
DHAKA
ASHUGANJ
AKHAURA
44
TRIPURA
AGARTALA
AGARTALA
NARAYANGANJ
N
AIZWAL
MIZORAM
P
Legend
Declared National waterway
Proposed National waterway
Protocol route
Road
Rail
NH
CHANDPUR
2
35
KOLKATA
P
6
KHULNA
BARISAL
P
CHALNA
KAUKHALI
P
MONGLA
41
HALDIA
ANGTIHARA
P
NAMKHANA
Bay of Bengal
Back
51
Protocol route distances
Kolkata – Silghat………….. ...... 1535 Km
Kolkata - Karimganj...................1318 Km
Silghat- Karimganj………………1410 Km
Dhulian-Rajshahi...........................78
5
5Km
Myanmar (Burma)
I
Aizwal
N D I A
I
BANGLADESH
N D I A
Lawngtlai
Myeikwa (IM Border)
Kaletwa
Myanmar
Paletwa
Bay of Bengal
Kolkata
Sittwe
539 km
Sea
Sittwe
Paletwa
158 km
IWT
Paletwa
Kaletwa
67 km
Road
Kaletwa
Myeikw
a (IM
Border)
62 km
Road
Myeikwa (IM
Border)
Lawngtl
ai
100 km
Road
Lawngtlai
Aizwal
334 km
Road
Kolkata
Aizwal
1260 km
Kyauktaw
Back
Sittwe 6
mmm
7
Importance of IWT for NER

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A cost effective & environment friendly mode
Best suited for bulk goods, ODC, Project cargo &
hazardous goods
IWT offers shorter, alternative route to Lower Assam,
Tripura, Mizoram & Manipur
Provides port- hinterland connectivity to entire region –
Kolkata – Haldia
River Brahmaputra offers immense scope for
development of ‘river cruise’ & ‘eco-tourism’ in NER
Access to Chittagong port by Bangladesh set to
change EXIM cargo transport pattern in NER as well as
Bhutan
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IWT – A COST EFFECTIVE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION
Fuel efficiency: One HP moves
Kgs
4000
4000
3500
One liter of fuel moves
(T-km)
105
120
85
Road
80
24
40
Rail
0
3000
2500
Road
2000
Rail
1500
IWT
1000
500
IWT
Road Rail IWT
150
6
Operating cost (international level)
Cents /T km
5.2
4
500
2.5
Road
1
2
Rail
0
0
Road
Rail
IWT
Road
Rail
IWT
IWT
Back
9
Status of NW-2
…. essential requirements
1. Fairway with targeted depth & width
2. Aids for 24 hrs navigation
3. Terminals with cargo handling equipment
and Road- Rail link
4. Vessels
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Status of NW- 2
Declaration
:Act of Parliament in December 1988
Distance & limits
:891 Km from Sadiya to Bangladesh Border
Fairway :
Stretch
B’Border-Neamati (630 Km)
Neamati –Dibrugarh (138 Km)
Dibrugarh-Sadiya (123 km
Least available depth (LAD)
2.5 Metres
2.0 Metres
1.5 Metres
Navigational Aids:
Night Navigation Aids are available between B’Border- Silghat (440 Km)
Day Navigation aids on entire waterway from B’Border – Sadiya (891 km)
DGPS station set up at Jogighopa and Dibrugarh and two more being set up at
Silghat and Dhubri for safe navigation using electronic charts
Fortnightly talweg survey through 6 survey vessels of IWAI; river notices being
issued
Besides, pilots are provided to cargo vessels
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Status of NW- 2
Terminals
IWT Port Pandu
 IWT Port at Pandu has been developed by IWAI as a hub
for multimodal connectivity in the North-East region by
investing Rs. 100 Cr.
 Low level permanent jetty is operational with mechanical
handling equipment
 Rail connectivity (BG) completed and dry engine run
conducted on 19-04-2012
 Road connectivity already available
 High level jetty in progress
 Alternate
road
connectivity
with
NH-31
for
container/heavy traffic is under construction

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Status of NW- 2
Terminals
Floating terminals at Dhubri, Jogighopa, Tejpur,
Silghat, Neamati, Bogibil (north & south banks),
Dibrugarh, Panbari & Orium ghat
are being
maintained with pontoon and gangway
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Floating terminal can be provided at other locations
on need basis
Two shore cranes and five floating cranes are availble
for loading/unloading of cargo at the terminals
Ro-Ro terminals proposed at Dhubri and Hatsingimari
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Status of NW-2
Cargo Vessels
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Failure of CIWTC is perhaps the biggest set back
for IWT in NER
IWAI has 2 cargo vessels
demonstrative voyages only
for
NW-2
for
IWT Directorate, Assam also has some cargo
vessels but now virtually defunct
Private operators consider investment in vessels
too risky - lack of assured cargo
Uncertainties surrounding Indo- Bangladesh Trade
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& Transit Protocol
Cargo movement
Figures in Lakh Ton
Year
Within
NW-2
Transited to
NE from
Kolkata
Export to
B’Desh from
Kolkata
2007-08
21.4
0.005
8.89
2008-09
21.80
0.039
8.80
2009-10
21.14
2010-11
21.64
0.006
0.033
13.38
14.92
2011-12
24.06
0.15
1.47
A major portion of the cargo in NW-2 is being transported through ferry
service having a distance up to 100 Km
15
Revenue earned
Rupees in Lakhs
Year
Within Transit cargo to NE
NW-2
from Kolkata
(Protocol routes)
Total
2007-08
0.82
9.04
9.86
2008-09
0.84
7.33
8.17
2009-10
2.10
2010-11
1.23
11.73
12.27
13.83
13.50
2011-12
3.29
127.00
127.00
IWAI is not collecting any waterway charges from the ferry service and most
of the cargo in NW-2 is transported through ferry service only.
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Important IWT Projects

Declaration of Barak river as National Waterway

Kaladan multi modal transport project
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RO-RO terminals at Dhubri and Hatsinghimari
(Phulbari) for RO-RO vessel movement
Slipway facilities at Pandu
Construction of terminals at Tezpur, Bishwanath
Ghat, Oriyumghat
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Important IWT Projects

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Study by RITES
waterways
for development of State
Transportation of FCI foodgrains by IWT Mode to
North-East
Transportation of coal by waterway for NTPC power
plant at Bongaigaon
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Barak river

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

Declaration of Barak river [Lakhipur- Bhanga
stretch (121 km)] as National Waterway is in
advanced stage
Cost of development – Rs 123.36 Cr (2012prices)
Navigational Channel of 40 m width and 1.6 m/2.0
m depth
1 CSD unit, 1 survey launch, & 1 inspection boat
are proposed for this NW

IWT terminals at Lakhipur, Silchar and Badarpur

Protocol routes connect Karimganj and Kolkata
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Kaladan multi modal transport project
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Project funded by MEA – total project cost over Rs.1000
crore
Provides alternative connectivity of North- East with
mainland India through Kaladan river & Sittwe port in
Myanmar
Multi modal project: Road- IWT- Sea
IWAI as PDC did the bid process management
M/s Essar Projects appointed by MEA as main contractor
for port & IWT components
Cost of work (IWT & Port): Rs 342 crore
Completion period is 3 years
Construction commenced; likely completion June 2013
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RO-RO terminals at Dhubri and Hatsinghimari
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Perishable cargo from Meghalaya and consumable goods
for West Garo Hills are transported by road using
Jogighopa bridge
RO-RO terminals at Duhubri (North Bank) and
Hatsingimari (South Bank) on River Brahmaputra will
provide direct connectivity between Dhubri and
Meghalaya
avoiding circuitous road route through
Jogighopa
DPR for construction of RO-RO terminal at Dhubri at a
cost of Rs 27 Crore (aprox) is in final stage
DPR for Hatsingimari will be completed by June 2012
Acquisition of land at Hatsingimari completed
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Slipway facilities at Pandu
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A partially built slipway (ship repair facility) of Assam
Govt’s exists at Pandu
IWAI proposes to develope this slipway on Joint
management basis with IWT- Assam, Garden Reach
Shipbuilders & Engineers and IWAI.
A concept note for this project has been prepared through
IL&FS and forwarded to Govt. of Assam for their views
/suggestions.
Ministry of DoNER has been requested to keep a
budgetary provision of Rs. 20 Cr for this project under
NLCPR- Central during 2012-13
22
Construction of other terminals
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IWAI is working out the modalities for movement of FCI
foodgrains for PDS through IWT to cater the needs of
upper Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and adjoining areas
Terminals needs to be developed at Oryumghat, Bogibeel,
Matmara, Biswanathghat and Tezpur for unloading
foodgrains
Land has been acquired through State Government at
identified locations at Biswanathghat and Hatsingimari
Land acquisition at Oryumghat and Tezpur is in process
Ministry of DoNER has been requested to keep a
budgetary provision of Rs. 10 Cr for road connectivity of
these IWT terminals under NLCPR- Central during 201213
23
Recent Study by RITES
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IWAI has recently conducted a study through RITES (July
2011) for ‘identification of potential waterways of NER’
22 river stretches identified
Assam
7 river stretches
405 km
Arunachal Pradesh
4 river stretches
311 km
Mizoram
3 river stretches
370 km
Meghalaya
3 river stretches
90km
Tripura
2 river stretches
126 km
Nagaland
1 river stretches
204 km
Manipur
2 river stretches
60 km
Total
22 river stretches
1566 km
State Governments may develop these waterways using
own resources/CSS /NLCPR-Central
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Details
Map
Issues
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Renewal of Indo- Bangladesh Transit & Trade Protocol for
longer period of 10 years instead of 1-2 years
Re-introducing Inland Vessel Subsidy Scheme for
construction of sufficient vessels by private entrepreneur
Setting up of vessel repair facilities at Pandu
Need to link major river ports like Jogighopa, Tezpur, Silghat,
Oriyam ghat, Dibrugarh, Karimganj, Badarpur, Ashuganj
with multi-modal rail & road links
Institutional strengthening of IWT setup in all NE States to
utilize Central Sector Scheme and NLCPR- Central for IWT
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Thank you
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