India is preparing to host one of its largest maritime events next month, with more than 100,000 delegates from over 100 countries expected to attend the India Maritime Week, as announced by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal. He highlighted that this event will be a pivotal step in establishing India as a global maritime leader. During his address, Sonowal underscored the crucial role of the northeast region in enhancing inland waterways. He pointed out that improvements in connectivity-across road, rail, air, waterways, and digital infrastructure over the past eleven years-have shifted the northeast from being landlocked to becoming more accessible by sea.
At a press conference held during a roadshow titled “Water Voyage Northeast,” leading up to the India Maritime Week scheduled for October in Mumbai, Sonowal outlined the government’s ambition to rank India among the top 10 shipbuilding nations by 2030 and within the top five by 2047. “This event marks a significant milestone in our journey to establish India as a global maritime leader,” he emphasized.
A significant announcement was made regarding the northeast, where two luxury cruise ships are being constructed with a total investment of ₹250 crore for deployment on the Brahmaputra River. These vessels, currently being built at the Hooghly Cochin Shipyard in Howrah, are slated for launch in 2027 and aim to enhance Assam’s river tourism as part of the Cruise Bharat Mission. These two ships will be among a planned fleet of 12 passenger cruise vessels for the region.
Sonowal also detailed progress and future initiatives under the Cruise Bharat Mission, launched last year to advance cruise tourism. The mission includes plans for the establishment of 100 river cruise terminals, 10 sea cruise terminals, and five marinas, with an ambitious goal to double the number of cruise calls and passengers by 2029. Cruise routes are being developed across major rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Godavari, and the backwaters of Kerala. Currently, 14 vessels operate on the Brahmaputra between Guwahati and Dibrugarh, signifying the growing potential of waterways in the region.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/sonowal-unveils-bputra-cruise-plans-ahead-of-maritime-week/articleshow/123662489.cms
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Publish Date: 2025-09-03 05:33:00
