Correct Option
The correct option is National Waterway-2.
Explanation
National Waterways (NWs) are designated river and canal stretches developed for inland water transport in India. Connectivity between the North-East region and Bangladesh is primarily facilitated by the river systems shared between the two regions, specifically the Brahmaputra and the Barak, supported by the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) on Inland Water Transit and Trade.
Option Analysis
- National Waterway-2: National Waterway-2 (Correct)
National Waterway-2 (NW-2) is located on the Brahmaputra River, stretching 891 km from Sadiya to Dhubri in Assam. Dhubri is situated on the border of India and Bangladesh. The river flows from Assam into Bangladesh (where it is known as the Jamuna). The development of NW-2 has significantly improved connectivity for cargo and passenger movement between the North-East region and Bangladesh, serving as a critical link to the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route. - National Waterway-1: National Waterway-1 (Incorrect)
National Waterway-1 (NW-1) is located on the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system, stretching from Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) to Haldia (West Bengal). While NW-1 connects to the North-East via Bangladesh through the IBP route, it is geographically located in mainland India, not the North-East. - National Waterway-3: National Waterway-3 (Incorrect)
National Waterway-3 (NW-3) is the West Coast Canal located in Kerala (Kollam to Kottapuram). It has no geographical relation to the North-East or Bangladesh. - National Waterway-4: National Waterway-4 (Incorrect)
National Waterway-4 (NW-4) comprises the Kakinada-Puducherry canal system along with the Godavari and Krishna rivers. It serves the states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and the UT of Puducherry.
Key Takeaway
National Waterway-2 (NW-2) on the Brahmaputra River is the primary inland waterway within the North-East region that directly connects to the Bangladesh border at Dhubri, facilitating cross-border trade and transit.