Page 40 - NIS English 16-30 September, 2025
P. 40
FLAGSHIP | 1 year of Cruise Bharat Mission
Prayagraj
Limca Book of Records: On January 13, 2023, PM
Varanasi Narendra Modi flagged off MV Ganga Vilas, which
made the world’s longest river journey from Varanasi to
Dibrugarh, covering a distance of 3,200 km through 27 river
systems of 5 Indian states and Bangladesh. This historic
journey found a place in the Limca Book of Records.
Cruise Kolkata Dhaka
Tourism
in India gets a Fillip
*( Representational Map)
With a nearly 7,500 km long here was a time when big ships used to ply
coastline and a 20 thousand km the rivers of our country, but after indepen-
long waterway network, India dence, this sector faced abject apathy. Now,
has the capability and capacity to T after decades, with a new approach, New
India is scripting a new chapter of revival by linking its
exploit it fully for fast progress. heritage with development. In the last 11 years, de-
With this aim, ‘Cruise Bharat velopment work has been done on strengthening wa-
Mission’ started with a 5-year terways just like roads, rail, and air. Now with an eye
goal to generate new employment on exploiting its full potential, Cruise Bharat Mission
opportunities along with national- is transforming the country into a global cruise
tourism hub by initiating sea travel and promoting
international connectivity, the experience of the beautiful locations of India. The
world-class hospitality facilities, target of this mission is to establish 10 sea cruise ter-
recreation, and promoting culture minals, 100 river cruise terminals, and 5 marinas in
by connecting cruise tourism, which five years. If we compare the last decade, the number
of sea cruise passengers has increased by about 400
was once considered a spendthrift percent. The central government believes that by
luxury, to the common man. 2047, this number will reach 50 lakhs.
So far, 15 river cruise circuits have been made op-
This 30th September marks the completion erational on 13 national waterways covering 9 states.
of one year of ‘Cruise Bharat Mission’, amid The mission plans to start 51 river-cruise circuits in
this backdrop, let us know how a new era of 14 states and 3 union territories. Its objective is to
cruise tourism is getting an impetus in India... make India an attractive cruise tourist destination
with state-of-the-art infrastructure and other facili-
38 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || September 16-30, 2025
