Guwahati: In a big boost under the Act East policy, the India’s Inland Waterways (IWAI) authorities signed an agreement with Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Ltd to build the first Slipway or repair facilities on the banks of the Brahmaputra River, National Water Line.
2, in Pandu here.
The agreement was inking in the presence of the Union Minister for the port, shipping and sarbanou sonowal water channel and Minister of Manual Minister Himanta Buswa Sarma.
With the technical support of IIT-Madras, this facility will be built in the estimated cost of RS 75 Crore more than 3.67 hectares of land provided by the Assam government in Pandu and is expected to be completed in August 2023.
Slipway will be used to repair nearly 40 ships every year and also creates new jobs for local communities.
At present, the northeastern region does not have ship repair facilities and ships sent to Kolkata to dry anchor, which is very expensive, uncomfortable and time consuming.
Sharing nearly 4,500 kilometers of international borders with neighboring countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and Myanmar, this region is very important and economical because it becomes the gateway to Southeast Asian countries.
Also, regional connectivity with other parts of the country by protracted transportation has become a thrust area for the government.
“In accordance with the government’s East Law policy, special emphasis has been given to the water transportation sector to imagine non-eastern region connectivity with Kolkata and Haldia ports on the east coast of India and the interior of the eastern state such as West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Rise Through Waterway-1 (Ganga-Hooghly-Bhagirathi River System), “said a spokesman.
To include most inland regions Ne, 20 waterways have been declared as national water channels, to provide access to Kolkata and Haldia ports.