Strengthening India’s inland maritime infrastructure, Minister Sarbānand Sonowal kicked off construction of four solar-powered lighthouses on the Brahmaputra River Thursday. Unveiled at Guwahati’s Lachit Ghat, this first-of-its-kind endeavor on National Waterway-2 will fortify safe passage amid booming traffic.
Spanning ₹84 crore, the project targets strategic Brahmaputra stretches: Bogibeel and Silghat on southern banks in Dibrugarh and Nagaon, Pandu in Kamrup Metro, and north-bank Bishwanath Ghat. Jointly executed by DGLL and IWAI, the 20m towers promise 14nm geographic and 8-10nm light range, fully solar-operated with embedded meteorology tools.
The 53% cargo uptick on NW-2 last fiscal—driven by Assam’s industrial supply chains—necessitates such upgrades. These lighthouses will enable round-the-clock operations, supporting tea, coal, fertilizer hauls plus tourism.
Innovation shines through community integration: each site gets a heritage museum, amphitheater for cultural events, cafes, playgrounds, souvenirs outlets, and pristine parks, blending utility with allure to boost local economies.
Sonowal articulated the vision: ‘PM Modi’s drive positions waterways as economy boosters—cost-effective, low-emission alternatives that optimize road and rail for urgent needs. These beacons declare our rivers trade-ready 24/7.’
Dignitaries included Assam’s Tourism, Transport, and PHE Ministers, Guwahati’s MP, and an MLA, with key bureaucrats like Secretary Vijay Kumar and DGLL head N. Muruganandam, uniting for waterway resurgence.