Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, announced the establishment of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to enhance religious river cruise tourism in Assam. The SPV includes Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), and the Assam government’s Inland Water Transport and Tourism Department. This initiative aims to develop a tourism circuit connecting seven temples, utilizing a hop-on hop-off model with suitable vessels. The Ministry is eager to advance river tourism in Northeast India, with the IWAI developing dedicated cruise terminals along National Waterway-2 (the Brahmaputra River) at strategic locations such as Guwahati and Neamati. The comprehensive development of NW-2 is budgeted at ₹498 crore from 2020 to 2025, involving projects like the construction of Bogibeel and Jogighopa terminals and regular fairway development. Additionally, NW-16 (Barak River) is seeing improvements costing ₹134.72 crore, which includes terminal upgrades and maintenance of navigational aids. Recently, NW-57 (Kopili River) has been operational with the transport of cement, and various Central Sector Schemes aim to enhance terminal and fairway facilities and procure small passenger vessels for inland water transport in the Northeastern states.
Special Purpose Vehicle To Promote River Cruise Religious Tourism Circuit In Assam
