India has begun work on its first lighthouse infrastructure on an inland waterway with the foundation stones laid for four river lighthouses along the Brahmaputra. The project is aimed at improving night navigation, supporting cargo growth, and turning key riverfront locations into tourism and public spaces. The sites are located at Bogibeel in Dibrugarh, Pandu in Kamrup (Metro), Silghat in Nagaon, and Biswanath Ghat in Biswanath district.
First Lighthouse Network on Inland Waterway
The four lighthouses will come up on National Waterway-2, which runs along the Brahmaputra. This is the first time such navigation infrastructure is being created on an inland waterway in India. The project has been taken up by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships and the Inland Waterways Authority of India under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Project Features and Navigation Role
- Each lighthouse will be 20 metres high.
- They will have a geographical range of 14 nautical miles.
- The luminous range will be 8–10 nautical miles.
- All units will run on solar power.
- Weather sensors will also be installed to support safe movement.
The combined project cost is about ₹84 crore. The lighthouses are expected to enable 24×7 navigation on the river and reduce risks for vessels operating in poor visibility.
Boost for Cargo and Regional Economy
Cargo movement on the Brahmaputra has risen sharply, with a 53 per cent increase in 2024–25. The waterway is important for Assam’s tea, coal and fertiliser supply chains. It also carries passenger and tourism traffic. Inland water transport is seen as cheaper and less polluting than road transport, making it useful for the Northeast, where road connectivity faces terrain and congestion pressures.
Tourism and Institutional Significance
Each site will also include a museum, amphitheatre, cafeteria, children’s play area, souvenir shop and landscaped public space. This makes the project both a navigation asset and a tourism landmark. The initiative follows a memorandum of understanding signed in April 2025 and site transfers completed in June 2025. The lighthouses are scheduled for completion within 24 months of contract award.
Last Modified: April 28, 2026