The world’s longest river cruise, from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to Dibrugarh in Assam via Bangladesh, will be launched on January 13 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In 50 days, the luxury cruise with foreign tourists will cover approximately 3,200 km of 27 river systems in India, including the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly, Brahmaputra, and West Coast Canal.
“This will be a unique cruise in the world and a reflection of growing cruise tourism in India. I request that the people of West Bengal take advantage of this," Modi said on Friday while launching several projects for the state via video-conferencing. He also stated that the cruise’s inaugural voyage will take place on January 13.
The cruise will visit 50 major tourist destinations, including heritage sites such as Varanasi’s famous Ganga Aarti and sanctuaries such as Kaziranga National Park and the Sundarbans Delta. In Bangladesh, the cruise will travel approximately 1,100 kilometres.
The cruise operated by a private player will be a regular feature, a senior official of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the agency responsible for National Waterways (NWs) told the Times of India.
“Because of the increased focus of the government on development and maintenance of inland waterways, we have taken up several projects to increase the depth, set up necessary navigation facilities and jetties for successful operation of both passenger and cargo vessels," the official told the Times of India.
The report quoted officials as saying that the development of the India-Bangladesh Protocol route was critical in the planning of the cruise service.
“Our civilisation developed along the rivers, so tourists taking river cruises will have a better experience and understanding of our culture and heritage," an IWAI official explained.
WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT CONCENTRATING ON CRUISES
Shipping and waterways minister Sarbananda Sonowal recently stated that the development of coastal and river shipping, including cruise services, is one of the government’s top priorities.
The Prime Minister stated that the Centre has taken on the task of developing 100 national waterways, with the goal of seeing world-class cruise ships operating on these waterways in addition to cargo movement.
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