New Delhi [India], February 28 (ANI): Welcoming ‘MV Ganga Vilas’, the world’s longest river cruise at its culminating vacation spot in Dibrugarh, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday hailed it as a historic and path-breaking occasion to be witnessed within the Inland Waterways sector since India’s Independence 75 years in the past.
MV Ganga Vilas arrived at Bogibeel at 02:30 PM right this moment, because the dignitaries led by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal accorded a heat welcome to all of the 28 overseas vacationers travelling onboard.
With the profitable finish of its maiden journey protecting a distance of over 3200 km, the MV Ganga Vilas opens up a brand new vista of alternative within the river tourism potential in your entire South Asia area.
Earlier, the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi flagged off MV Ganga Vilas – the primary indigenously made cruise vessel in India – from Varanasi on January 13, 2023. Built with a singular design and a futuristic imaginative and prescient, the cruise has three decks and 18 suites on board with a capability of 36 vacationers. It is already booked for back and forth journeys for the following two years. During this epoch-making journey, the vacationers travelling onboard had a possibility to journey by way of iconic locations like Patna Sahib, Bodh Gaya, Vikramshila, Dhaka, the Sunderbans and the Kaziranga earlier than reaching Dibrugarh in Assam right this moment.
Speaking at this historic second, Sonowal mentioned, “The successful completion of the world’s longest river cruise, MV Ganga Vilas, has exemplified how India under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi ji is ready to explore newer horizons to unlock value for the country. The robustness of the ship during the course of this journey shows how our tremendous strength in shipbuilding capacity is a world-class enterprise.””The successful cruise movement, as well as cargo movement on inland waterways, is a testament to the vision of PM Modi ji to bring about transformation through transportation. We continue to work under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi ji towards achieving Maritime India Vision, 2030; Sagarmal by 2035 along with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and National Logistics Policy. Today, we have realised another milestone to unlock tremendous potential in the blue economy of India,” he added.
Speaking on the large enhance to the river economic system within the Northeast area, Sonowal mentioned, “Our superb historical past of riverine commerce is about to be reclaimed with the profitable completion of the world’s longest river cruise right here right this moment.
“With the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi, we have reclaimed our access from the 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,” he additional added.
The dream of the Prime Minister for an alternate transport which is economical, safeenvironmentally sustainable has been really realised with this success right this moment.
He said, “I firmly believe that by investing more in river transportation, we can make Modi ji’s noble initiative of Net Zero – with a considerable reduction in pollution, an economical option.”As Northeast India will get able to energy the engine of development of India with its wealthy riverine system, I’m positive the historic metropolis of Dibrugarhthe complete area stays excited in regards to the tradecommercial potential it carries forth within the ensuing days.”‘MV Ganga Vilas’ has put India and Bangladesh on the river cruise map of the world. It has opened a brand new vista and vertical for tourism and freight carriage within the Indian sub-continent.
Tourists, each home and international who want to expertise spirituality now have the chance to go to locations like Kashi, Bodh Gaya, Vikramshila, and Patna Sahib and people who need to discover the pure range will cowl locations like Sundarbans and Kaziranga. Through this route vacationers have an immersive expedition whereas exploring the artwork, tradition, historical past, and spirituality of each India and Bangladesh.
Sarbanda Sonowal congratulated everybody who has contributed to the success of the world’s longest river cruise journey by MV Ganga Vilas and inspired all different non-public sector operators to determine the river cruise circuits of their alternative on numerous waterways and to enter this nascent sector and be part of river cruise tourism ecosystem within the nation for the broader prosperity of the nation particularly North Eastern Region. He appeals to all entrepreneurs and commerce leaders to work collectively for reaping rewards from waterways.
The seamless motion of MV Ganga Vilas has established the viability of seamless motion of vessels between Ganga Valley and Brahmaputra Valley; i.e., from Varanasi to Dibrugarh by way of Kolkata utilizing the IBPR.
For Northeast India, the key spotlight of MV Ganga Vilas’s profitable voyage is the chance to make use of the inland waterways to succeed in the seaports and entry the world of worldwide commerce routes.
Under the Jal Marg Vikas Project of the Ministry of Ports, ShippingWaterways (MoPSW), the Narendra Modi authorities is investing greater than Rs6,000 crores to revamp the inland waterways by way of Arth Ganga and Mahabahu Brahmaputra tasks. This is pivotal to the all-round growth of Northeast India.
The occasion was additionally graced by the Minister of State, Ministry of Shipping (I/C), Government of Bangladesh, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury; the Union Minister of State for Ports, ShippingWaterways and Tourism, Shripad Yesso Naik; the Union Minister of State for LabourEmployment and PetroleumNatural Gas; the Union Minister of State for Education and External Affairs, Dr Rajkumar Ranjan.
Freight motion by ship is cheaper than different technique of transport. A items prepare can carry 2000 metric tons (MT) in a single run, whereas a ship can carry 60,000 to 80,000 MT and as such the quantity of transportation by way of the ship makes the entire freight cost-effective.
Carrying such an enormous quantity of coal by ship helps in feeding many energy stations at a time and preserve them practical with out break therefore it’s all the time cheaper by ship than another means.
The pricing of freight per MT by way of roadways is Rs. 1.5 and thru railways is Rs. 1.25 whereas by way of delivery is Rs. 0.6. From 2004 to 2014, the coastal cargo development was 25 per cent whereas within the final years, the registered development has been 77 per cent that too in simply eight years, and this might change into attainable due to our PM’s imaginative and prescient and correct implementation of the insurance policies which was then supported by the involved ministries by placing their very best efforts. (ANI)