The Ganga Vilas Cruise completed its fifty day long journey to when it docked in Dibrugarh today afternoon. The ship passed through 27 river systems of the region and even international waters. The trip came to an end at the Bogibeel Railways Tourism Terminal in Dibrugarh. A cultural event was also organised to mark the event.
The prime minister of India had flagged off the Ganga Vilas Cruise from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on the 13th of January. This cruise was created with the objective of development of the National Waterways Ecosystem. And to harness the possibilities of the waterways in terms of both tourism and commerce.
The ship passed through the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Assam. It also made its way through the India Bangladesh Protocol Route before reentering India. The entire trip covered a distance of more than 3200 kilometers. It passed through 27 rivers spanning through the five states and two counties.
The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbanada Sonowal welcomed the tourists at Dibrugarh. Other dignitaries included Shripad Naik, Shantanu Thakur, Rameshwar Teli, Raj Kumar Ranjan Singh and Jayanta Malla Baruah. Bangladesh Minister Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Director of Marine Safety and Traffic Management Rafiqul Islam and Assistant High Commissioner Rahul Amin were also present for the event.
Sarbananda Sonowal mentioned that this cruise marks a new era of tourism and commerce with the neighboring countries. He also mentioned that the tourists were able to earn about several things during the trip. Local culture, handicrafts, arts, cuisines among others were some of the experiences that the cruise gave. The minister also announced another cruise named Brahmaputra in the lines of the Ganga Vilas.
