Why in News? 

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal recently inaugurated an Inland Waterways Terminal (IWT) on the Brahmaputra River at Jogighopa in Assam. 

About  

• The foundation stone was laid by the Prime Minister in February 2021. 
• The terminal is designed to enhance regional connectivity and strengthen trilateral trade with Bhutan and Bangladesh. 
• Developed at a cost of ₹82 crore, the terminal aims to: 
  • Reduce transportation costs. 
  • Provide an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative for cargo movement via the Brahmaputra River. 
• By 2027, the terminal is projected to handle 1.1 million tonnes of cargo annually. 

 About Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) 

• Established: Under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985. 
• Purpose 
  • Develops and maintains Inland Water Transport (IWT) infrastructure on national waterways. 
  • Funded through grants from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. 
• Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh. 
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. 
• Regional Offices: Guwahati (Assam), Patna (Bihar), Kochi (Kerala), Bhubaneswar (Odisha), Kolkata (West Bengal).