The world’s longest river cruise MV Ganga Vilas on Tuesday reached at Bogibeel Dibrugarh today at 2.30 PM.
Earlier, the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi flagged off MV Ganga Vilas – the first indigenously made cruise vessel in India – from Varanasi on January 13, 2023.
Built with a unique design and a futuristic vision, the cruise has three decks and 18 suites on board with a capacity of 36 tourists.
During this epoch making journey, the tourists travelling onboard had an opportunity to travel iconic places like Patna Sahib, Bodh Gaya, Vikramshila, Dhaka, the Sunderbans and the Kaziranga before reaching Dibrugarh in Assam today.
Welcoming ‘MV Ganga Vilas’, the world’s longest river cruise at its culminating destination in Dibrugarh, Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways hailed it as a historic and path-breaking event to be witnessed in the Inland Waterways sector since India’s Independence 75 years ago.
Speaking on the huge boost to the river economy in the Northeast region, Sonowal said, “Our glorious history of riverine trade is set to be reclaimed with the successful completion of world longest river cruise here today. With the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi, we have reclaimed our access from Brahmaputra to international marine trade routes via Indo Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR) & coastal ecosystem. The entire riverine economy through Arth Ganga has received a magnificent boost through the success of this River Cruise.The dream of Hon’ble Prime Minister for an alternate transport which is economical, safe & environmentally sustainable has been truly realised with this success today.
MV Ganga Vilas’ has put India and Bangladesh on the river cruise map of the world. It has opened a new vista and vertical for tourism and freight carriage in Indian sub-continent. Tourists, both domestic and global who would like to experience spirituality now have the opportunity to visit destinations Kashi, Bodh Gaya, Vikramshila, Patna Sahib and those who want to explore the natural diversity will cover destinations like Sundarbans and Kaziranga. Through this route tourists have an immersive expedition while exploring the art, culture, history, and spirituality of both India and Bangladesh.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Tourism Shripad Yesso Naik, said, “The success of MV Ganga Vilas in completing world longest river cruise establish the commitment of the Modi government to renew possibilities for holistic development of the country. The potential of river cruise tourism has been proven huge with the success of Ganga Vilas. The encouraging response from foreign tourists to explore India via river ways is a wonderful avenue for the tourism sector of the country while the peripheral riverine economy of the country is also likely to get a boost.
The event was also graced by Minister of State, Ministry of Shipping Bangladesh, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury; the Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Tourism, Shripad Yesso Naik; the Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment and Petroleum & Natural Gas; the Union Minister of State for Education and External Affairs Dr Rajkumar Ranjan; the Union Minister of State for ports, Shipping & Waterways Shantanu Thakur; the Minister of Tourism, Public Health Engineering (PHE), Skill Development, Employment & Entrepreneurship, Government of Assam, Jayanta Malla Baruah; the MP Arunachal East, Tapir Gao; the MP Lakhimpur, Pradan Baruah among many MLAs and other dignitaries participated in this historic event today.
