Union Minister Launches Historic River Lighthouses on Brahmaputra

Foundation Stones Laid for Innovative River Lighthouses

GUWAHATI, March 6: On Thursday, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, responsible for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, inaugurated the foundation stones for four river lighthouses along the Brahmaputra river. This initiative marks a significant milestone as it is the first establishment of lighthouse infrastructure on an inland waterway in India.

The event took place at Lachit Ghat in Guwahati, organized collaboratively by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

The four designated locations include Bogibeel in Dibrugarh, Pandu in Kamrup (Metro), Silghat in Nagaon, and Biswanath Ghat in Biswanath district, strategically positioned along the Brahmaputra (National Waterway-2), which serves as a crucial corridor for cargo and passenger transport in India.

The total investment for the construction of these lighthouses is estimated at around Rs 84 crore.

Each lighthouse will stand at 20 meters tall, with a geographical range of 14 nautical miles and a luminous range of 8-10 nautical miles, all powered by solar energy. In addition to navigation facilities, each site will include a museum, an amphitheater, a cafeteria, a children's play area, a souvenir shop, and landscaped public areas, transforming them into both tourist attractions and functional maritime assets.

The establishment of these river lighthouses is a direct response to a remarkable 53 percent increase in cargo movement on the Brahmaputra waterway for the financial year 2024-25, as reported by IWAI. The cargo traffic on NW-2 has been steadily rising, making the Brahmaputra corridor vital for the supply chains of Assam’s tea, coal, and fertilizer sectors, while also facilitating passenger and tourism traffic. The new lighthouses will ensure safe navigation around the clock, support weather observation, and provide the necessary infrastructure for the ongoing growth of freight and passenger transport on the river.

“Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, inland waterways are being developed not just as alternatives to road and rail transport but as significant contributors to our economy. Transporting a tonne of freight via water is much more cost-effective than road transport, produces fewer emissions, and alleviates pressure on highways for passenger and time-sensitive goods. These lighthouses on the Brahmaputra signify that India’s rivers are ready for business, 24/7,” stated Sarbananda Sonowal.

“Utilizing waterways provides a substantial cost advantage. Transporting a tonne of cargo via inland waterways costs about one-third of road transport and half of rail transport. For Northeast India, where road infrastructure is consistently challenged by traffic and terrain, activating the Brahmaputra as a comprehensive freight corridor is essential,” he emphasized.

“As traffic on NW-2 increases, the environmental and congestion benefits will multiply—resulting in reduced emissions, less wear on roads, lower accident risks, and a more resilient supply chain for the Northeast. The Deepstambh lighthouses will enhance safety and reliability for night navigation, eliminating the primary obstacle to continuous waterway operations,” Sonowal added.

The project was initiated following a proposal from the Minister’s Office to assess the feasibility of river lighthouses in the Northeast. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IWAI and DGLL was signed on April 8, 2025, covering all four locations.

By

Staff Reporter