Waterways in Assam

Submitted by pbhagawati on Fri, 01/02/2009 - 11:24

Assam is a riverine State. As much as 32 percent of the water resources of the country flow through the river Brahmaputra, Barak and myriad tributaries weave a vast network of water in the State. The Brahmaputra has 891 Km navigable length of water ways from Sadiya to Dhubri while the Barak has 94 Km length of navigable waterways. The Sadiya - Dhubri stretch of the Brahmaputra River has been declared as the 2^nd National waterways of the country. The waterways being the cheapest mode of transport, effective exploitation of these waterways in order to cater to the growing need for goods and passenger movement is the need of the hour.

The Government owned organisations - Central Inland Waterways Corporation and Directorate of Inland Water Transport (IWT), Assam, are operating water transport services on the river Brahmaputra and Barak on commercial basis. These services are used for the transportation of passengers and goods alike. Currently, the Directorate of Inland Water Transport is operating 74 ferry services, out of which 54 ferries are plying in the Brahmaputra valley and 24 in the Barak valley. The IWT Department has introduced 61 nos. of cargo cum passenger service in Assam for transportation of commuters throughout the nook and corner of the State where no road communications are available. At present the IWT department has 240 nos of passenger ferry vessels and 17 nos. of commercial vessels of its own. Besides these Government owned organisations, large number of private owners conducted ferry services [commonly known as Bhoot-bhooty services] to transport goods and passengers to the remotest hinterland under un-organised sector.

Passengers and Goods Carried by Inland Water Transport Vessels, Assam 2007-08 and 2008-09:

Sl. No.	Name of the Ferry Service	Passangers (in Nos.)			Goods (in M.T.)			Sl. No.	Name of the Ferry Service	Passangers (in Nos.)			Goods (in M.T.)
Sl. No.	Name of the Ferry Service	2007- 08	2008- 09	2009- 10	2007- 08	2008- 09	2009- 10	Sl. No.	Name of the Ferry Service	2007- 08	2008- 09	2009- 10	2007- 08	2008- 09	2009- 10
1.	Guwahati - North Guwahati	437596	446347	450810	6296	6484	654.9	38.	Dekhomukh - Phulani - Salmara	439400	448188	452670	95746	97660	9863.7
2.	Guwahati - Rajaduar	443849	457164	461736	6377	6568	663.4	39.	Dekhomukh - Sakarighat via Mamul	223262	22959	232259	15423	15731	1588.8
3.	Guwahati - Madhyamkhanda	458810	467986	472666	5797	5970	603	40.	Nemati - Kalabari	621471	633900	640239	2021	2081	210.2
4.	Guwahati - Kurua	281513	289958	292857	8498	8752	883.8	41.	Luhit	151847	156402	157966	2060	2121	214.2
5.	Sunchali - Kurua - Guwahati	66689	68022	68702	3421	3523	355.8	42.	Khabalu	208874	218874	221063	2060	2121	214.2
6.	Larkuchi - Majorchar - Kalachar	246306	251232	253744	2723	2804	283.2	43.	Badati	6009	6129	6190	40079	40880	4128.9
7.	Pandu - Amingaon	223487	230191	232493	6138	6322	638.5	44.	Desangmukh - Matmora	607075	619216	625408	43391	44258	4470.1
8.	Guwahati - Kachamari	456464	465598	470249	12488	12862	1299.1	45.	Shikarighat - Jamugurihat	334086	340767	344175	29610	30202	3050.4
9.	Guwahati - Umananda	778703	794277	802220	1105	1138	114.9	46.	Dhansiri - Gamiri	403932	412010	416130	30226	30830	3113.8
10.	Guwahati - Ashwaklanta	3115	3208	-	1134	1168		47.	Dibrugarh - Mazorbari	447340	456286	460849	1554	1600	161.6
11.	Auniati - Silsako - Guwahati	44633	45525	45980	4983	5132	518.3	48.	Ramkhowa - Rampur	3329	3428	3462	26903	27441	2771.5
12.	Adabari - Sialmari - Kurihamari	96641	98573	99559	2432	2504	252.9	49.	Ghagor	395234	403138	407169	25003	25503	2575.8
13.	Chaparmukh - Kachuwa	254516	259606	262202	4174	4299	434.2	50.	Phulartal	137108	141221	142633	2038	2078	3.0
14.	Lowkhowa - Tezpur	350177	360682	364289	4992	5141	519.2	51.	Silghat	129529	133414	134748	1395	1422	1.4
15.	Palashbari - Sualkuchi	102884	105970	107030	3146	2140	327.2	52.	Baghpur	18311	18860	19048	2513	2563	2.6
16.	Dhing - Singri	333225	343221	346653	2880	2966	299.6	53.	Sonai	19225	19801	19999	3987	4066	4.1
17.	Hohuwa - Sombaria - Bhogdia - Directory	81842	84297	85140	4498	4587	463.3	54.	Sonabari	304129	313252	316384	3205	3269	3.3
18.	Sontoli - Bohari - Alikash	4286808	4372544	4416269	3105	3198	323	55.	Gangapur	68187	69550	70245	1599	1630	1.6
19.	Nagarbera - Allopatti Majorchar	328728	338589	341975	1836	1891	191	56.	Beranga	19767	20162	20363	4838	5033	5.0
20.	Boghboor - Goalpara	470925	480343	485146	3474	3578	361.4	57.	Gandhighat	656076	669197	670157	5316	5422	5.5
21.	Joleswar - Dhubri	400386	408393	412477	48460	49429	4992.3	58.	Choto - Dudhpatil	448349	457315	460719	3688	3761	3.8
22.	Phulbari - Dhubri	501139	511161	516273	33536	34206	3454.8	59.	Boro - Dudhatil	58090	59251	49843	3820	3896	3.7
23.	Dhubri - Fakirganj	453551	462622	467248	32548	33198	3353	60.	Annapurna	115265	118722	119818	1758	1810	1.9
24.	Bamundi - Guimari - Sialmari	118557	120928	122137	1665	1714	173.1	61.	Massimpur	10362	10672	10787	3160	3223	3.3
25.	Mukalmua - Bhanganamari	1727159	1761702	1779319	42949	43807	4424.5	62.	Jatinga	92584	94435	-	3437	3505	-
26.	Guwahati - Sualkuchi	65808	67124	57795	1717	1768	198.6	63.	Rani	153167	156230	-	3217	3313	-
27.	Dukuchi - Bhokuradia - Rameswari - Pizupara	272981	278440	281224	1842	1897	595.7	64.	Rajnagar	46922	47860	48338	3772	3885	3.9
28.	Guwahati - Kirakara	503073	518165	523347	48580	50037	5053.7	65.	Dhaleswari	49491	50480	50984	3180	3243	3.3
29.	Borchala - Mairabari	229572	234163	236504	2391	2462	248.7	66.	Sidheswari	60946	62164	62785	2889	2946	3.0
30.	Amingaon - Fancy Bazar	17271	17783	17961	38825	39601	3999.7	67.	Narayanpur	24657	25150	25401	2346	2416	2.4
31.	Sadia- Saikhowa	354282	361367	364981	21143	21777	2199.5	68.	Mohanpur	144511	147401	148875	3096	3157	3.2
32.	Saikhowa - Pahlum	336705	343439	346873	31710	32344	3266.7	69.	Ratanpur	137145	141259	142671	2824	2908	3.0
33.	Dibru - Sontali - Burisuti - Sonari	2021285	2081923	2102742	16259	16584	1675	70.	Goglacherra	69487	70876	71583	3103	3196	3.2
34.	Dibru - Kachari - Oriumghat	2023656	2084365	2105209	2782	2837	286.5	71.	Lalacherra	162676	167556	169231	1933	1990	2.0
35.	Dibru - Sissi - Machkhowa	231105	238038	240418	879	905	91.4	72.	Katlicherra	61159	62993	63622	5148	5250	5.3
36.	Dehingmukh - Sissi - Kalghar	24709	25450	25705	15558	15869	1602.8	73.	Badri	79943	81541	82356	1815	1869	1.9
37.	Bebejia - Mornoi	6962	7101	7172	27752	28307	2859	Total		25944057	26553151	23534761.7	846246	865148	80024.9

Source: Statistical Handbook Assam 2010

Other Activities:

The IWT department has introduced Air-conditioned long distance river cruise service for the development for river tourism. The department has leased out a vessel M.K.Charaidew to private entrepreneur on hire basis. The department has also introduced two luxurious A/C cruise vessels on the river Brahmaputra and they are being operated by the department itself at Guwahati.

The IWT department has also constructed a RCC jetty on the 11 nos. of floating restaurants (A/C & Non A/C) on board of IWT vessels and three river cruise services on the river Brahmaputra. The department has also constructed 7 nos. of 25m long single Decker floating terminal at north bank and 2 nos. of 28m long double Decker floating terminal at the south bank of the Brahmaputra at Guwahati under centrally Sponsored scheme.

New Initiatives:

The IWT has taken following initiatives for improvement of ferry services including development of tourism facilities as well as handling of cargoes.

Construction of 20 nos. of 17 m. long terminal facilities for major ghats on the Brahmaputra.
Introduction of air conditioned luxury river service between Guwahati and Kaziranga as a joint venture with ATDC on DLB. Saraighat.
Construction of 5 nos. of floating Bops for BSF.
Introduction of high speed catamaran vessels in between Guwahati and Dibrugarh.
Introduction of 8 nos. of Hoover Crafts at important and major ferry points on the river Brahmaputra and Barak.
Construction of Slipway project of Pandu for up keeping of Passenger and Cargo vessels.
Installation of night navigation aid on Brahmaputra and Barak
Improvement of road connectivity to all Ghats.
Install proper cargo handling system at important terminals.

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Waterways in Assam

Passengers and Goods Carried by Inland Water Transport Vessels, Assam 2007-08 and 2008-09: