Sadiya - Dhubri stretch of Brahmaputra River was declared as the National Waterway no.2 vide National Waterway Act 1988. From Sadiya to Dhubri, the waterway extends for a distance of 891 Km. River Brahmaputra flows down the centre of Assam valley. It has a number of tributaries like Subansiri, Jia Bharali, Dihing, Burhi Dihing, Disang, Dhansiri and Kopili. The Brahmaputra along with its continuous water routes leading up to the ports of Calcutta and Haldia is a important traditional IWT route.
Important river stations/commercial centers along the river banks NW-2 are Dhubri, Jogighopa, Pandu/Guwahati, Tepur, Neemati, Dibrugarh, Sadiya and Saikhowa. Pandu/Guwahati is the most important river station on NW-2. The stretch downstream from Pandu up to Bangladesh Border (260Kms) is the stretch where IWT operations are presently most active.
National Waterway – 16 ( Barak River) :
Lakhipur - Bhanga Stretch of Barak River was declared as the National Waterway no.16 vide National Waterway Act 1988. From Lakhipur to Bhanga, the waterway extends for a distance of 121 Km. It originates in the Manipur hills and enters the plains near Lakhipur. Downstream of Silchar town and before entering Bangladesh the Barak bifurcates into the Surma River and the Kushiyara River. The principal tributaries of the Barak in India are the Jirl, the Dhaleshwari, the Singla, the Longai, the Sonai and the Katakhal.
