Assam: Sonowal Lays Foundation of River Lighthouses on Brahmaputra

GUWAHATI-  India has taken a significant step in inland waterway navigation with the foundation stone being laid for four river lighthouses along the Brahmaputra River, marking the country’s first lighthouse infrastructure on an inland waterway.

The foundation stones were laid at Lachit Ghat in Guwahati by Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The ceremony was jointly organised by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

The four proposed lighthouse sites are located at Bogibeel in Dibrugarh district, Pandu in Kamrup (Metro) district, Silghat in Nagaon district and Biswanath Ghat in Biswanath district. These locations lie along the Brahmaputra River, which forms the backbone of National Waterway-2 (NW-2).

Also Read- Kaziranga to Host Heritage Fair 2026

The project, with an estimated cost of about ₹84 crore, will see each lighthouse constructed to a height of around 20 metres. The structures will have a geographical range of 14 nautical miles and a luminous range of approximately 8–10 nautical miles, and will operate entirely on solar energy.

Apart from serving as navigational aids, each site will include public facilities such as a museum, amphitheatre, cafeteria, children’s play area, souvenir shop and landscaped spaces, positioning them as tourism landmarks along the river corridor.

Also Read- 45 Villages in Mizoram Still Without Power

According to officials, the development follows a significant rise in cargo traffic along the Brahmaputra waterway. Data from IWAI indicates that cargo movement on NW-2 increased by about 53 per cent during the financial year 2024–25.

The river corridor plays a key role in transporting commodities such as tea, coal and fertilisers across Assam while also supporting passenger and tourism movement.

Speaking at the event, Sonowal said the river lighthouse initiative would enable safe night navigation and strengthen the growth of inland waterways in the Northeast.

Also Read- WY Tablets, Brown Sugar Recovered During Highway Check in Manipur

“These lighthouses on the Brahmaputra are a statement of intent that India’s rivers are open for business round the clock,” the minister said, emphasising that water transport offers a cost advantage compared to road and rail.

The project originated from an initiative by the minister’s office to explore the feasibility of river lighthouses in the region. A memorandum of understanding between IWAI and DGLL was signed on April 8, 2025, followed by the transfer of project sites under Right of Use agreements in June 2025.

Each lighthouse is expected to be completed within 24 months after the award of contracts, following geotechnical investigations, topographic surveys and detailed design work.

Also Read- Drugs Worth ₹36 Crore Seized in Mizoram

National Waterway-2 connects Dhubri to Sadiya across a navigable stretch of about 891 kilometres, making it the longest navigable waterway corridor in India’s Northeast.

Officials said the lighthouse initiative could mark the beginning of a wider programme to equip inland waterways with modern navigational infrastructure similar to that used along India’s coastline.

The foundation ceremony was attended by Assam ministers Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Chandan Brahma Boro and Jayanta Mallabaruah, along with Bijuli Kalita Medhi and Siddhartha Bhattacharya, among other officials.