National Waterway-57 on the Kopili river operationalised with maiden cement cargo in Assam
National Waterway-57 on the Kopili river in Assam was operationalised on 2 August 2025 with a maiden 300-tonne cement cargo from Chandrapur to Hatsingimari, reviving intra-state waterborne freight after more than a decade.
Summary
National Waterway-57 (River Kopili) was operationalised on 2 August 2025 with the first-ever cargo trial run from Govardhan Bridge in Chandrapur, Kamrup, to Hatsingimari, marking the resumption of intra-state waterborne freight transport in Assam after more than a decade. The self-loading vessel MV VV Giri carried 300 metric tonnes of cement from Star Cement along a 300-km route on the Kopili (NW 57) and Brahmaputra (NW 2), a voyage of about 12 to 14 hours. Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal called it a watershed moment and said more than 1,168 km of National Waterways in Assam are now operational, with cargo moving on the Brahmaputra (NW 2), Barak (NW 16), Dhansiri (NW 31) and Kopili (NW 57).
Key facts
- Date
- 2 Aug 2025
- Waterway
- NW-57, Kopili river (Assam)
- Route
- Chandrapur (Kamrup) to Hatsingimari, about 300 km via NW 57 and NW 2
- Vessel/cargo
- MV VV Giri; 300 MT cement
- Voyage time
- About 12–14 hours
- Operational NWs in Assam
- More than 1,168 km
- Cargo on
- NW 2, NW 16, NW 31, NW 57
Practice MCQs 2 questions
National Waterway-57, operationalised with a maiden cement cargo in Assam on 2 August 2025, is on which river?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Kopili
NW-57 is on the Kopili river; the maiden cargo ran from Chandrapur to Hatsingimari.
Consider the following statements about the operationalisation of NW-57 in August 2025: 1. The maiden cargo of 300 MT of cement moved from Chandrapur to Hatsingimari. 2. With it, more than 1,168 km of National Waterways in Assam have become operational. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct. MV VV Giri carried 300 MT of cement from Chandrapur to Hatsingimari, and Sonowal said more than 1,168 km of National Waterways in Assam are now operational.