The Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma flagged off four steel catamaran vessels today from the Pandu Port in Guwahati, Assam.
These catamaran vessels are procured under a World Bank India funded project to transform the quality of the Inland Waterways Transport services and integrate high quality passenger & vehicle ferry services into Assam’s existing public transport network which include roadways and railways.
Each of these vessels are powered with 180 HP twin engines with a maximum forward speed of 10 knots. They can work at lower draft of 0.75 m. They are also equipped with advance services such as control and monitoring systems, advanced communication and navigation systems. It also has Global Positioning System, Eco Sounder and wind measurement onboard alongside lifesaving and firefighting equipment. Each of them have the capacity of transporting a hundred passengers along with fifty motorcycles in each trip.
Out of these catamaran vessels on the Brahmaputra, two will ply between Jorhat and Majuli and each on the Guwahati – North Guwahati route and the Uzanbazar – Umananda route.
He also launched the portal to book tickets online from tourists going to Umananda. The same portal allows public to book ferry services in the Jorhat – Majuli route.
