Thursday’s foundation laying by Union Minister Sarbānand Sonowal for four Brahmaputra lighthouses heralds a safer, more vibrant era for India’s National Waterway-2. At Guwahati’s iconic Lachit Ghat, this ₹84 crore solar initiative—India’s first riverine lighthouses—targets navigation challenges on one of Asia’s mightiest rivers.
Positioned at Bogibeel (Dibrugarh south), Pandu (Kamrup Metro south), Silghat (Nagaon south), and Bishwanath Ghat (Bishwanath north), the 20m structures from DGLL and IWAI offer superior reach: 14 nautical miles geographic, 8-10 light, with weather tech for reliability.
NW-2’s 53% freight growth in FY24-25, powering Assam’s tea-coal-fertilizer nexus and tourism, demands this infrastructure. Lighthouses will ensure nonstop safe transit for cargo and passengers.
Elevating beyond beacons, developments include interpretive museums, amphitheaters, dining spots, play zones, retail for mementos, and inviting plazas—crafting tourist magnets that sustain operations.
‘Waterways under PM Modi are force multipliers: economical, eco-friendly, freeing roads for essentials,’ Sonowal noted. ‘Brahmaputra’s lighthouses open rivers to perpetual commerce.’
The event convened Assam ministers Ranjit Das (Tourism), Charan Bora (Transport), Jayanta Mallabarua (PHE), MP Bijuli Kalita Medhi, MLA Siddharth Bhattacharya, plus MoPSW Secretary Vijay Kumar and DGLL’s N. Muruganandam— a testament to unified progress.