India to Build First Riverine Lighthouses on Brahmaputra River

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stones for the country’s first riverine lighthouses on the Brahmaputra River. The project will establish four modern Riverine Lighthouses along National Waterway 2 (NW-2) at Pandu, Bogibeel, Silghat and Biswanath Ghat. These solar powered navigation structures aim to improve 24*7 safe navigation, cargo movement and tourism in Northeast India. This Project will Built with an investment of ₹84 crore. The project marks a new phase in developing India’s Brahmaputra navigation infrastructure.

Brahmaputra Riverine Lighthouses Project

• The Riverine Lighthouses on Brahmaputra represent the first lighthouse infrastructure ever installed on an inland waterway in India.
• The project is being implemented by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) in collaboration with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• These Brahmaputra Riverine Lighthouses will guide vessels during night navigation and difficult weather conditions.
• Each lighthouse will be 20 metres tall powered by solar energy and capable of guiding vessels up to 14 nautical miles geographically and 8-10 nautical miles through luminous range.

Key features Brahmaputra Riverine Lighthouses Project

• Four locations: Pandu, Bogibeel, Silghat and Biswanath Ghat
• Investment: ₹84 crore
• Height: 20 metres each
• Energy: Fully solar-powered
• Navigation support: 14 nautical mile geographic range

These Riverine Lighthouses on Brahmaputra will significantly enhance navigation safety along National Waterway-2.

Strategic Locations of the Riverine Lighthouses

The Brahmaputra Riverine Lighthouses are strategically located along National Waterway-2. One of India’s most important inland water transport corridors.

The locations include,

1. Bogibeel (Dibrugarh district) – South bank of the Brahmaputra
2. Pandu (Kamrup Metro district) – Near Guwahati
3. Silghat (Nagaon district) – Important cargo handling point
4. Biswanath Ghat (Biswanath district) – Only lighthouse on the north bank

These Riverine Lighthouses on Brahmaputra will assist vessels moving through the 891-km National Waterway-2 corridor from Dhubri to Sadiya.

Boost to Navigation and Cargo Transport

The development of Riverine Lighthouses on Brahmaputra is closely linked to the rapid growth of inland water transport in Northeast India.

Cargo traffic on National Waterway-2 recorded a 53% increase during FY 2024-25, showing rising demand for river transport. The Brahmaputra corridor supports the movement of commodities such as,

• Tea from Assam
• Coal
• Fertiliser
• Agricultural products

The Riverine Lighthouses on Brahmaputra will allow round the clock navigation. Which is helping vessels move safely even at night. This will strengthen supply chains and reduce reliance on road transport in the region.

Question

Q. India’s first Riverine Lighthouses are being constructed on which river?

A. Ganga
B. Brahmaputra
C. Godavari
D. Narmada