Assam revives river trade as national waterway 57 sees first cargo trial

India’s National Waterway 57 on the Kopili River was officially operationalised on August 2, 2025, marking a historic revival of intrastate waterborne freight movement in Assam after more than a decade. The inaugural cargo trial featured the self-loading vessel MV V.V. Giri, which transported 300 metric tonnes of cement from a central Assam factory along a 300-kilometre route spanning the Kopili and Brahmaputra Rivers (National Waterway 2). The journey, which took approximately 12 to 14 hours, concluded in Hatsingimari, located in South Salmara-Mankachar district of western Assam. The vessel was ceremonially flagged off from Chandrapur, situated about 30 kilometres east of Guwahati.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal described the operationalisation of National Waterway 57 as a transformative milestone for inland water transport in Assam and the Northeast. “This marks a watershed moment,” he said, “as we breathe new life into a long-dormant trade route and take a decisive step toward building a transport system that is cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally sound.”

Sonowal further emphasized that the Kopili cargo trial is emblematic of a new era for Assam—one that is “connected, empowered, and in sync with India’s broader growth narrative.” He noted that the revival of riverine logistics directly supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a vibrant and self-reliant Northeast

Sonowal said the 1,168 km of operational waterways in Assam spans the Barak (NW16) and Dhansiri (NW31) rivers, apart from the Brahmaputra and Kopili, whose navigable stretch is 46 km long. “Promotion of inland water transport will not only decongest our roads but also bring economies of scale for the riverine communities in Assam to prosper and secure opportunities,” he said. Saturday’s trial run replaced 23 truckloads of cement.