Current Affairs - State - Discussion

National Waterway-57, located on the Kopili River, has been made operational in Assam, adding to the state’s existing network of inland waterways, which includes Brahmaputra (NW 2), Barak (NW 16), and Dhansiri (NW 31). This development strengthens Inland Water Transport (IWT) as part of India’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and PM Gati Shakti initiatives. IWT offers cost-effective, fuel-efficient, and eco-friendly cargo and passenger movement, with minimal environmental disruption. Operationalising NW-57 enhances connectivity in the Northeast, supports multimodal logistics, and promotes economic growth through cargo transport, eco-tourism, and ferry services, aligning with national goals to boost the freight share of inland waterways.