Assam’s Inland Water Transport (IWT) department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Bank for a Rs 770 crore loan to promote river transportation, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Taking to twitter CM Himanta said, “Assam & World Bank are exploring opportunities to work together on multiple projects ranging from bridge and road infra to improvement of secondary health infrastructure as well as water resource management using latest technologies and scientific data.”

"My pleasure to have met Mr Junaid Kamal Ahmad, Country Director, India, @WorldBank today in New Delhi. I am very happy and glad to share that we are taking Assam’s partnership with World Bank to the next, & higher level”, he added.

While flagging off four steel catamaran vessels at Pandu Port, the chief minister stated that the national government would reimburse 80% of the sanctioned sum, with the state government covering the outstanding 20%.

Out of the four vessels with the capacity of 100 passengers and 50 two-wheelers and powered by 180 HP twin engines each, two would be operated on river Brahmaputra at Majuli and one each in between Guwahati-North Guwahati and Uzanbazar-Umananda ferry ghats.

The vessels have advanced equipment including control and monitoring, communication and navigation, GPS, echo-sounder, wind measurement, lifesaving and firefighting equipment etc.

The catamaran ferries were inaugurated as part of a World Bank-funded initiative to incorporate top-quality passenger and vehicle ferry services into the province’s broader transportation network system, as per the chief minister.

The Brahmaputra and Barak rivers, as well as their tributaries, have aided Assam’s culture and civilization, but they also cause communication problems for individuals who live along their banks, according to Sarma.

Highlighting the steps taken by the IWT department for improvement of inland water transport system in the state, Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said that prior to the Nimatighat boat mishap, 16 boats used to ply between Majuli and Jorhat and government efforts are on to increase the number to 20.

Image courtesy: Twitter