The inaugural meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC), led by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal in Kolkata, announced a significant investment of Rs 45,000 crore for the advancement of river cruise tourism in India.
Out of this substantial allocation, around Rs 35,000 crore will be dedicated to cruise vessels, while Rs 10,000 crore is earmarked for the development of cruise terminal infrastructure by the year 2047.
During the event, Sonowal launched the 'Harit Nauka' guidelines and the 'River Cruise Tourism Roadmap, 2047.'
Acknowledging the immense growth potential, Sonowal emphasized the goal of making India a leader in the Blue Economy, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision.
A roadmap was outlined at the meeting to enhance the capacity of an additional 26 waterways suitable for river cruise tourism, expanding from the current operational strength of 8 waterways. The number of cruise circuits with night stays is set to increase from 17 to 80 by 2047.
In a bid to bolster inland waterway infrastructure, the number of river cruise terminals will be raised to 185 from the existing 15 terminals. The plan envisions increasing cruise tourism traffic with night stays from 5,000 to 1.20 lakh by 2047.
Additionally, efforts will be directed towards enhancing local cruise tourism traffic on National Waterways without night stay, aiming to increase it from 2 lakh to 15 lakh by 2047.
Sonowal highlighted the launch of 'Harit Nauka – Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels,' marking a commitment towards a sustainable and eco-friendly future for inland waterways.
The roadmap identifies over 30 potential routes for various cruise types, including long & short, recreational, and heritage segments, aiming to attract diverse tourist categories. An action plan and roadmap covering route development, marketing strategy, infrastructure development, and navigation are in place for the effective development of additional river cruises.
Significant progress in waterway infrastructure includes the establishment of Multimodal Terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj, and Haldia, enhancing regional connectivity. The Kalughat Intermodal Terminal is contributing to seamless transportation and trade activities, while the completion of a new Navigational Lock at Farakka improves waterway navigability.
As part of the strategy to boost inland waterways for cargo trade, an investment of Rs 15,200 crore was proposed at the Global Maritime India Summit in October 2023, with the aim of achieving a growth rate of over 400% and increasing the cargo volume to 500 Million Tonnes Per Annum by 2047.
(With Agency Inputs)
