Inland waterway cargo movement connecting Assam's Dibrugarh to Bangladesh is on track to resume after a hiatus of nearly eight decades. Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited (APCL) based in Namrup is preparing to transport methanol shipments through the Brahmaputra River utilizing National Waterway-2, marking a major milestone for regional trade and transport logistics.
Bogibeel Terminal Receives Cargo Vessels
A vessel carrying 27 ISO tanks has arrived at the newly constructed Bogibeel Inland Water Transport Terminal originating from Guwahati to load the scheduled methanol consignment. The cargo is destined for Dhaka in Bangladesh. Organizers have readied two vessels for the operation, with each vessel carrying 27 containers. Since each individual container will hold 20 tonnes of methanol, the total cargo capacity for each vessel stands at 540 tonnes.
Transit Duration and Terminal Facilities
The transport vessels are projected to cover the roughly 783-kilometer waterway stretching from Bogibeel to the Bangladesh border in approximately seven days. To support these commercial cargo operations and streamline the transit of goods via the inland waterway network, the Bogibeel terminal has been outfitted with a dedicated jetty, a warehouse, and necessary customs facilities.
Reviving Old Fleet and Historical Routes
APCL Chairman Bikul Deka noted that the initiative could establish a more economical transport channel through the Brahmaputra and boost future import and export activities. According to Deka, two vessels belonging to the Inland Water Transport Department of the Assam government, which remained unused for nearly three decades, were leased by APCL for this purpose. The vessels underwent comprehensive repairs at Pandu Ghat to ready them for the demanding cargo operations. Deka added that the vessel DLB Patkai has already reached Bogibeel from Guwahati, representing a vital step toward the upcoming shipment.
This renewed movement also serves as a revival of a historic inland trading corridor. During the British colonial era, cargo vessels operated by the East India Company regularly navigated the Brahmaputra past Dibrugarh to transport commodities to diverse domestic regions and international destinations. The overarching initiative has been spearheaded by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal.
