New Delhi, Nov. 20 -- Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the rapid modernisation of India's inland waterways, particularly in the Northeast, is set to unlock major economic opportunities and strengthen the petroleum supply chain and export routes connecting Assam to Bangladesh and Southeast Asia.

Speaking at the North East Oil & Gas Conclave 2025, the Union Minister said, "Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the renewed focus on Inland Water Transport (IWT) has enabled smooth and swift cargo movement, reduce logistics costs and provide a reliable multimodal network for the movement of petroleum products and industrial cargo across the Brahmaputra and Barak river systems. This...