Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Unveils Major Initiatives to Boost Waterways Potential in Nagaland

Dimapur, Nagaland: In a landmark announcement at the Stakeholder’s Conference held in Dimapur today, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, along with Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, unveiled several initiatives aimed at harnessing the waterways potential of Nagaland. These initiatives focus on the development of Tizu Zunki (National Waterways 101) and exploring the tourism potential of Doyang River Lake.

Sonowal and Rio announced that the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the Transport Department of Nagaland will collaborate to conduct a navigation feasibility study for Tizu Zunki. Additionally, plans to develop community jetties and explore the feasibility of Ro Pax ferries on Doyang River Lake were discussed, which are expected to significantly boost tourism in the state.

The conference, organized by the IWAI, was attended by several dignitaries, including Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton, Tourism Minister Shri Temjen Imna Along, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) S S Jamir, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Phangnon Konyak, and other senior officials from both the Government of India and the Government of Nagaland.

During his address, Sarbananda Sonowal emphasized the importance of waterways as an economical, sustainable, and efficient mode of transportation. He highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of utilizing inland waterways as a viable alternative to traditional transportation modes, contributing to India’s goal of becoming one of the world’s top five economies within the next decade. “Northeast has a major role to play as the growth engine of India,” said Sonowal. “The complex and dynamic mix of waterways in the Northeast provides an excellent opportunity to build on the nation-building momentum.”

Rio and Sonowal also urged the youth of the region to train in maritime skills at the Maritime Skill Development Centre to avail employment opportunities in the marine sector. In Nagaland, National Waterway 101 flows from Longmatra towards Avangkhu, where the IWAI will conduct a feasibility study focusing on fairway development, navigational aids, and terminal infrastructure.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), through the IWAI, has been actively working to empower and develop the region’s waterways. Key projects include the prestigious Kaladaan Multimodal Transit Transport Project, linking multiple National Waterways with the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR), and the development of fairways and declaration of Ports of Call.

The Tizu river in Nagaland flows into the Chindwin river, a tributary of the Irrawaddy river in Myanmar. This connection offers an alternative route for cargo movement from the Northeast to international trade routes, further enhancing Nagaland’s strategic importance in regional trade and commerce.