New Delhi/Guwahati, February 26 (H.S.): Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbanand Sonowal on Wednesday said that the central government will spend Rs 4,800 crore on development of waterways and related infrastructure in Assam in the next 5 years.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced this during a session on road, railway and river infrastructure of the state on the second day of the 'Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit' here. Sonowal said that in the next five years, the ministry will spend Rs 4,800 crore in Assam. A center of excellence in maritime education will also be set up in the state, which will train 5,000 skilled youth annually for the shipping industry.

He said that this investment will enable the immense potential of the state's complex and dynamic waterway system, which will accelerate the development and growth of the region towards realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India.

Referring to the importance of waterways in economic growth, the Union Minister said that since the BJP-led government came to power in 2014, the sector has received a lot of boost. Sonowal said that India aims to become a leading maritime nation and one of the top five ship manufacturing nations by 2030.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar