Very soon, you will be able to experience an exhilarating cruise journey from Kolkata to Guwahati via Dhaka. In a historic agreement between neighbouring nations — India and Bangladesh, the two have agreed to explore cruise vessels commuting between the nations.
As per a report in Money Control, Gopal Krishna, secretary, Ministry of Shipping said, “The two countries have reached an understanding, through a standard operating procedure (SOP), for movement of passenger and cruise vessels on Inland Protocol route and coastal shipping route.”
Senior officials also said that the vessels and ships will commence the trip from Kolkata and reach Guwahati via Haldia in Bengal to Barisal and Dhaka in Bangladesh.
“Ganga will be connected to the Brahmaputra via Indo-Bangladesh protocol route,” Pravir Pandey, chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) told Moneycontrol.
The cruise line will be connected to three rivers — Ganga in India (called Padma in Bangladesh), Jamuna in Sunderbans (Bangladesh), and the Brahmaputra in Assam (India).
IWAI with the support of Shipping Ministry has taken the responsibility to make the smooth running of the passenger cruise line on National Waterways-2.
Reportedly, the cruise route is expected to be operational by March 29, 2019, and will be operated by Kolkata-based Heritage Cruise.
On October 20, union minister of shipping, Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated India’s first luxury cruise line from Mumbai to Goa.
Copyright © 2024 IE Online Media Services Private Ltd. All Rights Reserved.