Numaligarh Refinery, Inland Waterways Authority ink pact for petroleum products transportation

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Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which seeks to revolutionize cargo movement in the region. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Act East policy is unlocking the Northeast's full potential as a key contributor to India's growth story. Our extensive network of waterbodies and rich hydrocarbon resources must be leveraged to realize this vision." Highlighting the significance of inland waterways, the minister stated, "In line with the Prime Minister’s 'Act East Policy,' the IWAI and the ministry of ports, shipping & waterways have brought transformative changes to India's waterways sector over the last nine years.

Cargo handled on national waterways increased dramatically from 6.89 MMT in 2013-14 to 126.15 MMT in 2022-23, marking a phenomenal growth rate of 1734%. Cruise tourism on national waterways surged from 3 in 2013-14 to 10 in 2022-23, reflecting an increase of over 233%. Investments in waterways have also soared, reaching ₹544.31 crore in 2022-23, a 198% growth over the past nine years." "The Northeast region has seen significant development with 20 National Waterways and projects worth more than ₹800 crore underway.

Permanent terminals have been established at Pandu and Dhubri. Over the last two years, 385 cargo vessels have moved from Dhubri to Bangladesh, showcasing the transformative potential of the region's waterways," he added. NRL is currently executing the Numaligarh Refinery Expansion Project (NREP), a refinery expansion cum modernisation project with a capex of ₹28,026 crore.