Kopili River (NW 57) operationalised

In a significant move to revive river-based trade in Assam, the National Waterway-57 (River Kopili) was officially operationalized on August 2, 2025. This event, marked by the first-ever cargo trial run, signals the resumption of intra-state waterborne freight transport in Assam after more than a decade.

Details of the Inaugural Trial Run:

• Vessel and Cargo: The cargo vessel MV VV Giri, which has self-loading capabilities, transported 300 metric tonnes of cement from Star Cement. The “self-loading” feature means the vessel is equipped with its own cranes or systems to load and unload cargo without relying on port infrastructure, making it ideal for navigating rivers with minimal terminal facilities.
• Route: The 300-kilometer journey started from the Govardhan Bridge in Chandrapur, Kamrup, and concluded in Hatsingimari, South Salmara, a district located on the India-Bangladesh border. The vessel utilized both the Kopili River (NW-57) and the Brahmaputra River (NW-2) for its voyage, which took approximately 12 to 14 hours.
• Wider Significance: The operationalization of the Kopili River, which is navigable for about 46 km, has been hailed as a “watershed moment” for inland waterways in the Northeast. It brings the total operational national waterways in Assam to 1,168 km, which also includes the Brahmaputra (NW-2), Barak (NW-16), and Dhansiri (NW-31).

(Source: PIB)