Modi flags off world's longest river cruise MV Ganga Vilas
What's the story
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off the world's longest river cruise, 'MV Ganga Vilas' from Varanasi.
The river cruise will traverse 3,200 kilometers to reach Assam's Dibrugarh in 51 days via five states in India and parts of Bangladesh.
PM Modi also inaugurated the Tent City and laid the foundation stone of other inland waterways projects worth Rs. 1,000 crore.
Cost
Cost ranges from Rs. 42,500-85,000 per day
As many as 32 Swiss tourists are taking the maiden journey to reach Dibrugarh. The cruise has 18 suites on board with luxury amenities, which can accommodate 36 passengers.
Apart from taxes, the entire package would cost Rs. 42,500 for twin sharing and Rs 85,000 per suite per night, bringing the total cost of the 51-day journey to around Rs. 40 lakh.
Twitter Post
PM Modi greeted the foreign tourists taking the maiden journey
Beginning of cruise service on River Ganga is a landmark moment. It will herald a new age of tourism in India. https://t.co/NOVFLFrroE
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 13, 2023
Booking
Booking full for next two years
Raj Singh, the CEO of Antara Cruises, which will operate the cruise, said that though tickets could be booked from their website, it won't be open to the public for two years, as all the booking slots are full until then.
It was set to be launched in 2020, but was delayed because of the pandemic. Later, all bookings were made in 2021.
Details
Cruise to visit over 50 tourist sites
The vessel is 62 m in length and 12 m wide with three decks, and it will connect the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers through the Sunderbans.
It will cover 27 river systems and more than 50 tourist sites, including Ghazipur in UP, Bihar's Buxar and Patna, Rajmahal and Sahibganj in Jharkhand, Kolkata, and Guwahati and the Kaziranga National Park in Assam.
Inauguration
Opportunity to experience art, culture of India, Bangladesh: Sonowal
PM Modi flagged off the river cruise through video conferencing while Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and dignitaries from several ministries and departments were present at the event.
Sonowal said the journey was an opportunity for foreign tourists to experience the art, culture, history, and spirituality of India and Bangladesh.