Lok Sabha Question No. 35 (STARRED), answered on 2023-02-03
Subject: Development of Ferry Service
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Mondal

## GOVERNI\4ENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.  -35

ANSWERED ON O3IO2I2O23

## DEVELOPMENT OF FERRY SERVICE

## ,35, SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL:

Will  the Minister of PORTS, SHtpptNG  AND WATERWAYS  be pteased  to state: q-nn, qld qft-d-6{  rilr EdcFf  {tr

- (a) whether the Government  has any proposal  to launch  other cruises on the lines of Ganga Vilas at various places  for further  development  of ferry services in lndia and if so, the details thereof atong with the estimated profits  likely to accrue  therefrom;
- (c) if so, the details thereof  along  with the future  initiatives taken  by the Government in  this regard;  and
- (b) whether Government  has made any plan under which passengers  cruise ships advancemenl work and service could be done in more better and modern way including their  safety  and security in comparison to foreign cruises in lndia.
- (d) the details  of the Ganga Vilas Cruise launched recenly along with the steps taken for its safety  and security  indicating the expenditure incurred thereon and for development of infrastructure  for cruise  services?

## ANSWER

I\i]INISTER  oF PoRTS,  SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a)  to (d) A statement is laid on the Tabte of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS  (A) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA irlnneo euESTtoN No..35 FoR o3.o2.2o23 RAIsED BY sHRl suNlL KUMAR rtrtO,lOl-, HON'BLE M.P. ON "DEVELOPMENT  OF FERRY SERVICE"

(a)  Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways  had organized the-fi lncredible  lndia tniernationat  Cruise  Conference  2022  at Mumbai  on 14-15 May' 2022  wherein  leading "rri"" op"r"tor"  of the world had  participated' The work  done by lnland WateMays nuttority of lndia  (lWAl)  in ensuring  draft and navigational  aids in waierways  and the ;"it,"a "on"trr"t"i and  planned were shared They have shown keen interest in harnessing  the  potential of river cruise tourism in lndia' MoUs were also signed with ftff"-  ff"ritrg"  River Journeys Pvt  Ltd (Operated  under the brand  name  'M/s Antara River Cruise'), M/s Adventure  Resorts & Cruise Pvt Ltd' and M/s J'M' Baxi & Co' This ground work done on waterWaYS-

', na-" teO to increased  bookings  on severat  river cruises  on Ganga'  Brahmaputra' Kerala Backwaters, Odisha, etc'

i. Led to start of the longest river cruise from Varanasi to Dibrugarh  Assam  via lndo-Bangladesh  Protocol Route on 13 01 2023'

TheinitiativestakenbytheGovernmentandbenefitsofpromotionofrivercruise tourism are detailed  at Annex  -1'

(b)& (c) lWAl has conducted  a study for  preparation  of  "River  Cruise  Vision  2047" with Action Plan for development  of river cruise tourism in lndia lWAl is  providing navigable  waterway  and  jetties  on the National  Waterways  which are being used by the cruise  operators,  by  providing the best  in world cruise  vessets  and services' attracting iioi"" ,"0  foreign  tourists  from all over the world  The State Governments  are collaborating  by providing their best cultural'  handicraft'  tourism  and hospitality  products to such tourists.

(d) Hon'ble  Prime Minister flagged  off (online) the longest,river  cruise  voyage il  ornn, Vitas on lJh  'l"n'"r.v zozi"t'orn  Varanasi  (Uttar Pradesh)  on the NW-1 scheduled  to reach Dibrugarh  (nssam) on 1"r March' 2023 on the.Brahmaputra  River (NW-2)  covering  a waterway Oistance'ot  about 32OO km between NW-1 & 2 via IndoBangladesh Protocol  route'

lnland  Waterways  Authority  of lndia  (lWAl) is responsible  for development  and regulationolNationalWaterways(NWS)forshippingandnavigation.aSperlWAlAct' 1985'TheinfrastructureinclUdingGrminalSdevelopedforcargoVesselsarealsobeing utilized  by river  cruises. lWAl  acts as a facilitator  for river cruise  tourism  Pilotage  and a"f" n"vigation  is provided  to the vessel by lWAl'

"""orting'tol.

## lnitiatives taken by the Government

- ii. Navigational  aids tike buoys with lights, night navigation (high density  stretches), masts, etc.
- i. Maintaining Navigational Channeli carry out bandaling & dredging work
- ll. Hydrographic survey of the channel  & update on Digital Map with markers
- v. Coordination with Bureau of lmmigration  and Customs Department
5. Tugs & rescue vessels in case of emergency
- vi. Coordination with Bangladesh  lntand Water Transport  Authority (BIWTA)  for navigational assistance
- viii. Terminal infrastructure for berthing  of vessels; power  supply, bunker oil
- vii. Po(al for Asset & Navigafional tnformation (pANl)  to enable stakehotders  to have access to key information on NWs.
- ix. Co-ordination wjth State Govt. for pontoon  bridge  opening, HT tines

## Benefits  of promotion  of river cruise tourism

- ii. lt would generate  emproyment  and benefit  the rocar communities  in addition  to benefits  created to national economy.
- i. River cruise can promote  tourism in the hinterland  states,  enhance lndia,s tourism revenue after developing modern amenities and infrastructure\_
- iii. lt would provide  skilled/non  skilled  employment through  training of tocal boat operators,  hoteliers  and restaurants  operators  to handle domestic  as well as international  tourists.
- v. Thus, it would help in uptifting the tives of people  tiving  in the hjnterland of waterways by providing  employment.
- iv. lt  would also benefit the local markets i.e handicrafts to some  extent.
- vi. lt would also improve  the health status of local community  living in the hinterland regions.