GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday, May 19, welcomed the Centre’s proposal to introduce Water Metro services in Guwahati, Tezpur and Dibrugarh as part of a national urban water transport initiative.
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The announcement came after Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal chaired a review meeting on the rollout of Water Metro services across the country.
Under the proposed plan, Guwahati has been included in Phase I of the project along with cities such as Srinagar, Patna, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj, while Tezpur and Dibrugarh have been proposed for Phase II.
Reacting to the development, Sarma said the proposed Water Metro services would add another important mode of public transport in Assam and help decongest urban areas.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister said, “The plan to roll out Water Metro services in three cities of Assam- Guwahati, Tezpur and Dibrugarh- in the coming days is a welcome step. This will add another key public transport mode which will decongest our cities and improve Ease of Living for the people in these urban centres.”
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has also circulated the Draft National Water Metro Policy, 2026 for inter-ministerial consultations to establish a framework for urban water transport systems across the country.
During the review meeting, Sonowal said the proposed Water Metro systems would use existing waterways with minimal civil infrastructure, making them less capital intensive and more environmentally sustainable.
He added that the use of electric and hybrid ferries would help reduce operational costs, traffic congestion and pollution while providing a comfortable commuting experience.
The proposed Water Metro system is being planned as a mass public transport solution for both daily commuters and tourists and is expected to operate across navigable waterways in selected cities.