Sonowal inaugurates three inland waterway projects on the Brahmaputra (NW-2) in Dibrugarh
Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated three inland waterway projects on National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra) in Dibrugarh, Assam, on 27 February 2026.
Summary
Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated three inland waterway projects on National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra) in Dibrugarh, Assam, on 27 February 2026. The projects are the Customs and Immigration Complex at Bogibeel, part of a tourist-cum-cargo terminal for trade on Indo-Bangladesh Protocol routes; the Customs and Immigration Complex at Dhubri, a gateway for cross-border commerce with Bangladesh and Bhutan; and the renovated Heritage Building of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) at Dibrugarh. Sonowal described them as an example of 'Vikas and Virasat'. Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, 20 rivers in the Northeast have been declared National Waterways, with the Brahmaputra (NW-2), Barak (NW-16), Dhansiri (NW-31) and Kopili (NW-57) being actively developed.
Key facts
- Date and place
- 27 February 2026, Dibrugarh, Assam
- Waterway
- NW-2 (Brahmaputra)
- Projects
- Bogibeel Customs & Immigration Complex; Dhubri Customs & Immigration Complex; IWAI Heritage Building, Dibrugarh
- Trade link
- Indo-Bangladesh Protocol routes
- Law
- National Waterways Act, 2016 — 20 NE rivers declared NWs
- Active NE waterways
- NW-2 Brahmaputra, NW-16 Barak, NW-31 Dhansiri, NW-57 Kopili
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Which river is National Waterway-2, on which Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated three projects in Dibrugarh on 27 February 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Brahmaputra
NW-2 is the Brahmaputra; Barak is NW-16, Dhansiri NW-31 and Kopili NW-57.
Consider the following statements: 1. Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, 20 rivers in the Northeast have been declared National Waterways. 2. The Customs and Immigration Complex at Dhubri is meant to boost cross-border commerce with Bangladesh and Bhutan. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. PIB says 20 Northeast rivers were declared National Waterways under the 2016 Act, and the Dhubri complex is a gateway for cross-border commerce with Bangladesh and Bhutan.