Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced that Assam’s river jetties and terminals in Pandu, Jogighopa, Dhubri, Bogibeel, Karimganj, and Badarpur have become major centres of cross-border trade, driving economic growth through efficient inland water transport. Speaking at the North East Oil and Gas Conclave 2025, he said these waterways are now moving petroleum products and heavy industrial cargo to Bangladesh and neighbouring regions, significantly cutting transport time and costs. Sonowal noted that cargo movement on the Brahmaputra’s National Waterway-2 has reached nearly six lakh tonnes annually, aided by improved navigation systems and faster turnaround times. Citing successful over-dimensional cargo deliveries to the Numaligarh Refinery, he emphasised that inland waterways are transforming Northeast India’s energy supply chain. The minister added that the central government has invested over ₹1,000 crore in developing the region’s waterway infrastructure, with 76 national waterways expected to be operational by 2027.