The Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, achieved a milestone in clean energy and responsible tourism by inaugurating two hybrid electric catamaran vessels in Varanasi. These vessels, named MV Guh and MV Nishadraj, have a seating capacity of 50 passengers each and are designed to reduce carbon emissions by 400 MT annually. They will operate on the River Saryu in Ayodhya and the River Ganga in Varanasi, promoting religious tourism and showcasing India’s commitment to sustainable transportation.
In addition to the vessel inauguration, the Prime Minister also inaugurated four community jetties in Varanasi and laid the foundation stone for 13 more community jetties along various waterways in Uttar Pradesh. These efforts aim to improve waterway connectivity, reduce congestion, and promote eco-friendly commuting options in urban areas. The Quick Pontoon Opening Mechanism System was also inaugurated, reducing the time needed to dismantle and reassemble pontoon bridges across waterways, thus reducing inconvenience and delays to vessel and vehicular traffic.
The initiatives undertaken by the government, including the deployment of green vessels, development of community jetties, and implementation of quick pontoon opening systems, signal a move towards harnessing clean energy, promoting responsible tourism, and enhancing connectivity across waterways. These efforts support the goal of boosting the share of Inland Water Transport to 5% by 2030 as part of the Maritime India Vision, with a vision to establish a greener future for all through enhanced maritime sector growth and connectivity.
