Guwahati, 19 May (HS): Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbanand Sonowal on Monday conducted a comprehensive review of waterways-focused projects going on in Northeast India at the Marine Skill Development Center in Guwahati. He said that in the last two years, projects worth about ₹1000 crore are going on, out of which projects worth ₹300 crore have been completed and work is going on rapidly on the rest.

Sonowal said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, internal water transport is being promoted in the Northeast through rivers like Brahmaputra and Barak. Schemes like Jalbhaak are making cheap and environment-friendly transportation of goods and passengers possible.

He informed that water metro service will be started in Guwahati and Dhubri at a cost of about ₹315 crore. Also, a modern cruise terminal will be built in Guwahati at a cost of ₹100 crore and a Center of Excellence will be built in Dibrugarh at a cost of 120 crore.

Projects worth ₹1010 crore are underway for the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers, which include dredging, jetty construction, cruise tourism and works to ensure the depth of waterways.

Sonowal also reviewed the possibilities of water transport and tourism in the water bodies of Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya and talked about promoting skill development for local youth.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash