LUCKNOW, Uttar Pradesh: Prime minister of India Narendra Modi inaugurated Tent City in Varanasi and MV Ganga Vilas, the longest river cruise in the world on Friday, January 13. PM Modi inaugurated these projects via video conferencing. Apart from that, Modi also laid the foundation of inland waterways projects worth over ₹1,000 crore.
Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav along with other officials from various ministries and departments were present during the launch event.
While speaking at the launch event, PM Modi said that launch of the world’s longest river cruise service will herald a new age of tourism in India. He added, “I want to tell passengers onboard river cruise liner MV Ganga Vilas that India has everything you can imagine. It also has a lot beyond your imagination. India can’t be defined in words. India can only be experienced from the heart. Because India has opened her heart for everyone, irrespective of region or religion, creed or country.”
Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav assured that the Government of Bihar will provide all possible help to ensure smooth journey for the tourists onboard MV Ganga Vilas. Tourists will receive a traditional welcome, and they’ll be taken to historical places when they pass through towns such as Buxar, Chhapra, Patna, Munger, Sultanganj and Kahalgaon.
MV Ganga Vilas will cover 3,200 km while passing through five states in India and parts of the neighbouring country, Bangladesh, over 51 days. The journey will begin from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, culminating in Dibrugarh, Assam. MV Ganga has 18 suites and can house 36 tourists.