India to Build First Riverine Lighthouses on Brahmaputra to Boost Inland Waterway Navigation

India has taken a pioneering step in strengthening inland waterway navigation with the launch of the country’s first riverine lighthouse infrastructure along the Brahmaputra River. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stones for four lighthouses that will be constructed along National Waterway 2, marking a new milestone in the development of India’s inland transport network.

The foundation ceremony was held at Lachit Ghat in Guwahati and was jointly organised 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 project involves the construction of four modern lighthouses at Pandu, Bogibeel, Silghat and Biswanath Ghat, strategically located along the Brahmaputra to support navigation and economic activity on the river.

With a combined investment of approximately ₹84 crore, the four lighthouses will serve both as navigational aids and tourism landmarks. The sites include Bogibeel in Dibrugarh district, Pandu in Kamrup (Metro) district, Silghat in Nagaon district and Biswanath Ghat in Biswanath district. Three of these structures will be located on the south bank of the Brahmaputra, while the Biswanath Ghat lighthouse will be situated on the north bank.

Each lighthouse will stand about 20 metres tall, with a geographical range of 14 nautical miles and a luminous range of 8–10 nautical miles. The facilities will be powered entirely by solar energy and equipped with weather monitoring sensors to support safe and efficient navigation. The project also integrates tourism infrastructure such as museums, amphitheatres, cafeterias, children’s play areas, souvenir shops and landscaped public spaces, transforming the sites into potential visitor attractions.

According to the government, the initiative comes at a time when cargo movement along the Brahmaputra waterway is rising rapidly. Data from IWAI indicates that freight movement on the waterway grew by 53 percent in the financial year 2024–25, highlighting the increasing importance of the river as a transport corridor in Northeast India. The Brahmaputra route plays a crucial role in moving goods such as tea, coal and fertilisers while also supporting passenger transport and tourism activities.

Speaking at the event, Sarbananda Sonowal emphasised that inland waterways are becoming an increasingly important component of India’s logistics and economic infrastructure. He noted that transporting cargo through waterways is significantly cheaper and more environmentally sustainable compared to road transport. Waterborne freight generates fewer emissions, reduces pressure on highways, and helps create more efficient supply chains for remote regions such as the Northeast.

The Minister added that the new lighthouses would enable round-the-clock safe navigation, especially during night-time operations, which has traditionally been one of the major limitations of inland waterway transport. By improving navigational safety and infrastructure, the project aims to unlock the full potential of the Brahmaputra as a major freight and passenger corridor.

The initiative originated from a proposal by the Minister’s office to explore the feasibility of installing lighthouse infrastructure on inland waterways in the Northeast. Following this, an agreement was signed on April 8, 2025 between IWAI and DGLL to implement the project. The sites were formally transferred to DGLL through Right of Use agreements in June 2025, after technical clearance by the Central Advisory Committee for Aids to Navigation. Each lighthouse is expected to be completed within 24 months of the award of contracts, following detailed surveys and engineering studies.

The Brahmaputra waterway, stretching 891 kilometres from Dhubri to Sadiya, is the longest navigable stretch among India’s national waterways. The corridor passes through the heart of Assam and serves as a vital economic artery for the Northeast.

Officials say the four riverine lighthouses represent the beginning of a broader effort to equip India’s inland waterways with the same advanced navigational infrastructure that has long been used along the country’s extensive coastline. By combining safety systems, cargo infrastructure and tourism development, the project is expected to strengthen the Brahmaputra’s role as a key engine of economic growth in the region.

Source: PIB