India's First River Lighthouses: Sonowal Lays Foundation on Brahmaputra in Assam

• Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid foundation stones for four river lighthouses on the Brahmaputra in Assam.
• These are India's first such lighthouses on an inland waterway (National Waterway-2), located at Bogibeel, Pandu, Silghat, and Biswanath Ghat.
• The Rs 84 crore project aims to enable 24x7 safe navigation and boost cargo movement, which saw a 53% surge on Brahmaputra.
• Each solar-powered lighthouse will be 20m high, offering 14 nautical miles geographical range, and include tourist amenities like museums and amphitheatres.
• Waterways offer significant cost advantages for freight, crucial for Northeast India's connectivity and economic growth.