India has begun work on waterways along the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers. This will link Assam and the rest of northeastern India to Haldia in West Bengal, India, via Bangladesh.

Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, India, speaking at the Brahmaputra River Conclave on 8 January 2022 in Guwahati, Assam, said that dredging of the Brahmaputra and Barak national waterways has begun to develop the waterways for the passage of cargo and passenger ships. He said that the opening up of northeastern markets would also boost coastal and maritime shipping.