India’s Rs 60,000 Crore Investment Plan for River Cruise Tourism and Green Vessels

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced a plan to invest Rs 60,000 crore by 2047 in river cruise tourism and the development of green vessels. This investment includes Rs 45,000 crores in river cruises, which aims to increase guest capacity from 2 lakh to 15 lakh by 2047. Additionally, the government plans to invest Rs 15,000 crore in green transport over the next ten years to develop 1,000 vessels and ferries. The investment will be made through a public-private partnership model and is expected to generate thousands of jobs.

The first Inland Waterways Development Council meeting, led by Sonowal, saw the release of the River Cruise Tourism Roadmap for 2047 and the Harit Nauka standards for inland vessel green transitions. The meeting covered topics such as private sector engagement, fairway development, and best practices in enhancing cargo transport efficiency. Representatives from nearly 20 states and Union territories attended the meeting, with the West Bengal Transport secretary seeking assistance for dredging rivers and building community jetties.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India will assist in dredging and building about 20 community jetties in West Bengal. The meeting also focused on the economic benefits of river cruise tourism and the development of eco-friendly vessels for guest transportation. The investment plan aims to streamline and advance the development of waterways and foster the promotion of eco-friendly vessels for guest transportation.

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