Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday laid the foundation stone for four river lighthouses along the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati, marking a significant step toward improving navigation and strengthening inland water transport in the Northeast.
The foundation-laying ceremony was held at Lachit Ghat and was organised by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships in collaboration with the Inland Waterways Authority of India. The project aims to establish India’s first lighthouse infrastructure on an inland waterway.
The four river lighthouses will be constructed at Pandu in Kamrup (Metro) district, Bogibeel in Dibrugarh district, Silghat in Nagaon district, and Biswanath Ghat in Biswanath district along National Waterway 2 on the Brahmaputra.
Estimated to cost around ₹84 crore, the project is expected to significantly enhance safety for cargo and passenger vessels operating on the river. Each lighthouse will be about 20 metres tall and equipped with solar-powered lighting systems capable of guiding vessels from a considerable distance, enabling safer navigation even during night hours and adverse weather conditions.
Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said the initiative will boost inland water transport and contribute to transforming the Brahmaputra into a major economic corridor for the Northeast. He added that improved navigation infrastructure will enhance connectivity, facilitate trade, and support the region’s economic growth.
Officials said the lighthouse complexes will also include public amenities such as museums, cafeterias, landscaped areas, and children’s play zones, combining navigation infrastructure with tourism promotion along the riverfront.
The projects are expected to be completed within about two years after the awarding of contracts, marking a major step in modernising waterway infrastructure in Assam and strengthening India’s inland navigation network.
- Log in to post comments
