Dhemaji: Union water resources minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday laid the foundation stones of a project to protect Majuli island from flood and erosion and another to construct a Brahmaputra Board complex at Rawanapar in Majuli district.

The shipping minister also flagged off cargo movement on the Pandu-Dhubri route (National Waterway 2) along the Brahmaputra and launched a slew of projects taken up by Dispur.

Gadkari said the Majuli protection project includes the construction of a Rs 237-crore riverbank revetment wall to solve its problem of erosion.

Majuli, the largest river island in Asia, had measured 1,250 square km at the beginning of the 20th century but it has since lost 352 square km to erosion. The Centre and the state have together pumped in Rs 345.5 crore for infrastructure development projects, the highest in the island's history.

The river development minister said the Centre was keen to develop the Brahmaputra as a major waterway to boost trade and commerce as it would enable plying of cargo through Bangladesh till Chittagong port. This would open up the sea route for Assam to connect with other important ports of the country.

He said five new bridges would be built over the Brahmaputra. The detailed project reports for the bridge to be constructed from Neematighat in Jorhat district to Kamalabari Ghat in Majuli district is being prepared by the state government and necessary action will be taken up after receiving the DPR from Dispur.

"Another roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) ferry service to transfer passengers and vehicles in large numbers will start here soon," Gadkari said.

The minister said rapid development of surface and water connectivity will bring economic benefit to the state.

He said the Brahmaputra Board complex, to be built at a cost of Rs 40 crore, will help the Board to streamline its activities and manage flood and erosion in a big way. The permanent complex will include an office, a godown and a guest house so that officials can stay in Majuli to execute the work.

Gadkari said the Centre fully supported Dispur's "sincere efforts" to preserve and develop Majuli, the seat of Vaishnavite culture, and the state. "Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has fulfilled the promises he made during the election campaign by declaring Majuli as a district," he added.

The minister called upon Dispur to explore ways to develop river tourism and take advantage of the huge bamboo plantation in the state to produce bio-ethanol. He underlined the need to increase the income of farmers for bringing transformation in the state.

"This government was formed to protect the rights of the indigenous people of the state and aspirations of all sections of society will be fulfilled by this government," he said.