Meghalaya’s Umiam Lake, Umngot River to become state’s first National Waterways

Guwahati: Meghalaya’s Umiam Lake and the Umngot River are set to become fully functional national waterways, with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the initiatives.

The announcement followed a high-level review meeting in Guwahati, chaired by Assam's Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal.

During the meeting, IWAI signed agreements worth around Rs 3,000 crore to boost inland water transport, cargo movement, and river-based tourism in the Northeast.

The Umngot River, already designated as National Waterway-106, and Umiam Lake will be developed for passenger ferries, eco-friendly tourism boats, and sustainable water mobility, enhancing Meghalaya’s tourism potential and local economy.

Officials said the projects will connect Meghalaya to the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route and the national inland waterways network, offering more affordable and environmentally friendly transport options for the region.

Other key decisions from the meeting included a Rs 500-crore MoU with Heritage River Journeys Pvt Ltd for luxury cruise vessels on the Brahmaputra and other rivers; a Rs 1,000-crore partnership with Rhenus Logistics for modern tug-barges on the Ganga–Brahmaputra; Rs 299 crore allocated for new cruise terminals at Neamati, Silghat, Biswanath Ghat, and Guijan in Assam; Rs 188 crore for a Regional Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh; and Rs 55 crore for the development of a significant land parcel in Guwahati.