World’s longest river cruise MV Ganga Vilas enters Assam

Sonowal terms it ‘watershed moment’ in inland water transportation

A CORRESPONDENT

DHUBRI: MV Ganga Vilas Cruise anchored at Dhubri River Port on Friday evening. Upon arrival at Dhubri, the ship was anchored on the Brahmaputra and the 32 foreign tourists from Switzerland were taken via MV Pratima to reach the jetty at Dhubri Customs Port for immigration clearance.

All the foreign tourists were accorded a warm welcome by State PHE and Tourism Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, the Deputy Commissioner of Dhubri, Regional Director of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), members of the reception committee and officials of the Dhubri district administration with phulam gamosa and a gift of traditional products, including terracotta products.

Many Self-Help Groups (SHGs) from the area put up stalls where the tourists witnessed the local crafts. A dance troupe also performed traditional Koch Rajbongshi dance as the tourists enjoyed a relaxing evening by the Brahmaputra. A detailed tour in and around Dhubri town has been prepared where the local cultural heritage, crafts, and other tourist attractions will be showcased. The tourists will visit the famous Asarikandi village known for its craft to witness the production of artefacts made out of terracotta. A religious visit to Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib ji and darshan of Holy Peepal tree has also been planned along with a visit to the Victoria Park.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal termed the arrival of Ganga Vilas cruise ship at Dhubri as a ‘watershed moment’ in inland water transportation towards transformation of Northeast India. The minister congratulated the people of Assam and the Northeast on this historic moment that is set to unlock the huge potential of river tourism, allowing a trickle-down development for people across the bank of the Brahmaputra.

Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said, “Today is a historic day for the people of Assam and for the Northeast India. Our endeavour towards reclaiming the glory of Assam’s trade and commerce got a tremendous boost with the successful passage of Ganga Vilas. We have a history of flourishing trade and commerce via inland waterways before the partition. As the possibilities were turned into realities, the successful voyage of Ganga Vilas has opened a new vista of possibilities, opportunities and realities.”

MV Ganga Vilas will resume its onward journey from Dhubri to Goalpara on February 18. Flagged off by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the historic cruise set sail from Varanasi on January 13, 2023, and, after traversing through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal as well as Bangladesh, arrived at Dhubri on its 39th day of the voyage. Dubbed as the longest river cruise in the world, the Varanasi to Bogibeel voyage by the Ganga Vilas is scheduled to complete the journey on March 1, 2023, when it anchors at Bogibeel in Dibrugarh drawing a close to its 51-day cruise.

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