New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the ‘world’s longest river cruise’ MV Ganga Vilas and inaugurate a ‘tent city’ on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi on January 13 via video conference.
His office said in a statement that he will also inaugurate and lay foundation stones for several other inland waterway projects worth over ₹1,000 crores during the event.
MV Ganga Vilas will start its journey from Varanasi and sail approximately 3,200 km in 51 days to reach Dibrugarh in Assam via Bangladesh, crossing 27 river systems in both countries, it said.
PM Modi said the 51-day river cruise is a unique opportunity to connect with the country’s cultural roots and discover the beautiful aspects of its diversity.
The cruise ship has three decks, 18 suites on board with a capacity of 36 tourists, and all luxury amenities. 32 tourists from Switzerland signed up for the first cruise for the entire length of the trip, he noted.
The Prime Minister’s Office said the cruise was designed to bring the best of the country to the world. The cruise is planned to visit 50 tourist sites, including world heritage sites, national parks, river ‘ghats’, and major cities such as Patna in Bihar, Sahibganj in Jharkhand, Kolkata in West Bengal, Dhaka in Bangladesh, and Guwahati in Assam.
The journey will provide tourists with an opportunity to embark on an experiential cruise and immerse themselves in the art, culture, history, and spirituality of India and Bangladesh.
In line with the Prime Minister’s drive to boost river cruise tourism, the service will help unlock the huge untapped potential of the industry and usher in a new age of tourism for India, the company said.