Guwahati: The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) will conduct a regional roadshow in Guwahati on September 2, leading up to India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025, set for October 27-31 in Mumbai. This event aims to gather policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to discuss the future of inland waterways, focusing on river cruise tourism and urban water transport.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, along with senior officials from the Ministry and IWAI, will participate, alongside transport ministers from all Northeastern states, including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur. Union Minister of State for MoPSW, Shantanu Thakur, and Secretary TK Ramachandran are also expected to attend.
Sunil Kumar Singh, Chairman in-Charge of IWAI, emphasized that IMW serves as a platform to highlight the maritime and inland waterways sector’s potential. He noted that the roadshow aims to showcase the Northeast’s strategic role in enhancing river cruise tourism and urban ferry systems, promoting sustainable growth through optimal utilization of the region’s waterways network. The discussions will focus on establishing a comprehensive agenda for sustainable tourism and ferry integration.
