Lok Sabha Question No. 2311 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-13
Subject: Sea and River Cruise Passengers
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Shri P C Mohan, Shri Dilip Saikia, Shri Lumbaram Choudhary, Shri Naba Charan Majhi, Shri Ravindra Shukla Alias Ravi Kishan, Shri Shankar Lalwani, Shri Alok Sharma, Shri Balabhadra Majhi, Smt. Kamlesh Jangde, Shri Manoj Tiwari, Smt. Anita Nagarsingh Chouhan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2311

ANSWERED ON 13.02.2026

## SEA AND RIVER CRUISE PASSENGERS

## 2311. SHRI ALOK SHARMA:

SHRI LUMBARAM CHOUDHARY:

SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:

SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI:

SMT. ANITA NAGARSINGH CHOUHAN:

SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

SMT. KAMLESH JANGDE:

SHRI P C MOHAN:

SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI:

SHRI RAVINDRA SHUKLA ALIAS RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI:

SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY:

Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:

## पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

- (a) the  number  of  sea  and  river  cruise  passengers  in  the  country  during  the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26;
- (b) the revenue collected from foreign cruise operators under the new Presumptive Taxation Regime (Section 44BBC);
- (c) the total number of international cruise calls at the six major cruise ports as of December 2025;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  launched  the  'Cruise  QR  Code'  clearance system at all international terminals;
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  manner  in  which  it  has  been implemented  and  its  impact  on  passenger  convenience,  timely  clearance  and transparency; and
- (f) the new sea or inland river cruise routes/terminals planned/proposed indicating  their  locations  timely  clearance  and  expected  tourism  and  employment benefits, State-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) The numbers of sea and river cruise passengers in India for FY 2024-25 & for FY 2025-26 (up to December, 2025) are as below:

| Year                    | FY 2024-25   | FY 2025-26 (up to December, 2025)   |
|-------------------------|--------------|-------------------------------------|
| sea cruise passengers   | 4,92,362     | 3,42,631                            |
| river cruise passengers | 4,35,163     | 29,26,440                           |

(b)   (i) A new column related to Section 44BBC of the Income-tax Act, 1961 has been introduced in 1TR-3, ITR-5 and ITR-6 for AY 2025-26:

-  ITR-3:  Schedule  BP:  (35)(vib)  Profits  and  gains  of  business  or  profession deemed to be under -Section 44BBC
-  ITR-5:  Schedule  BP:  (35)(vib)  Profits  and  gains  of  business  or  profession deemed to be under -Section 44BBC
-  ITR-6:  Schedule  BP:  (36)(vib)  Profits  and  gains  of  business  or  profession deemed to be under -Section 44BBC

(ii) It  has been observed that only three individuals have reported a total of Rs.  2,10,001/-  as  profits  and  gains  of  business  u/s  44BBC  of  the  Income-tax Act,1961 in above mentioned column of ITR -3 of AY 2025-26 (latest submitted upto 31st December 2025) .

(c) The  total  number  of  international  cruises  calls  at  the  six  major  cruise  ports for FY 2025-26 (up to December, 2025) was 25.

(d)  &  (e) Yes,  the  Cruise  QR  code  has  been  launched  at  all  major  international Seaports  by  the  Bureau  of  Immigration,  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs.  All  cruise passengers  arriving in India on e-Visa  have  a  QR  Code  on  their e-Travel Authorization.  Further,  for  Regular  Visa  holders,  a  QR  Code  is  given  to  the passengers separately as per the passenger manifest received. In both cases, this single  Cruise  QR code  enables cruise  passengers to swiftly  complete immigration procedure at  the  Seaport Cruise  terminals  during  their  movement  between  Cruise ship and port.

- (f) Details annexed.

## Annexure-A

1. Sea International  &  Domestic  Cruise  Terminal  is  under  construction  at Mormugao Port, Goa.
2. River Details are as tabulated below.

|   No. of NWs | State(s)                                                                                   | Name of NWs                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Cruise Circuits                                                                                                                                                                |
|--------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|            1 | Andhra Pradesh                                                                             | NW-79 (Pennar River)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | PavitraSangamam local cruise                                                                                                                                                   |
|            1 | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Pudduchery and Maharashtra | NW-4 { Godavari river (Bhadrachalam to Rajahmundry &Bhadrachalam - Nashik), Kakinada Canal (Kakinada to Rajahmundry), Eluru Canal (Rajahmundry to Vijayawada), Krishna river (Wazirabad to Vijayawada &Wazirabad - Galagali), Commamur Canal (Vijayawada to Peddaganjam), North & South Buckingham Canals and Marakanam to Puducherry through Kaluvelly tank | Mahabalipuram- Ediyur Bridge Almatti Dam to Herkal (Overnight) Narayanpur Dam Tarlaguda-Bhadrakali Kaleswaram-Sironcha SreepadaYelampalli Sriramsagar Kopargaon Nanded Paithan |
|            1 | Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka, Telangana                                                      | NW-104 (Tungabhadra River)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Sunkesula Barrage                                                                                                                                                              |
|            2 | Gujarat                                                                                    | NW-66 (Mahi river)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | Sindhort Dam -Kotna-Beach &Kadana Dam                                                                                                                                          |
|            2 | Gujarat                                                                                    | NW-87 (Sabarmati river)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | Dholka-Vataman& U/s of SantSarovar Dam                                                                                                                                         |
|            2 | Gujarat &                                                                                  | NW-73 (Narmada river)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Kukshi-U/s of Sardarsarovar                                                                                                                                                    |

| No. of NWs   | State(s)                                   | Name of NWs                                   | Cruise Circuits                                                    |
|--------------|--------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|              | Maharashtra                                |                                               | Dam                                                                |
|              | Maharashtra                                | NW-100 (Tapi river)                           | Surat Castle-Dumas Beach                                           |
| 1            | Gujarat & Rajasthan                        | NW-48 (Jawai-Luni-Rann of Kutch River System) | Dholavira&Lakhpat Fort-Narayan Sarovar (MHA clearance is required) |
| 6            | Goa                                        | NW-25 (Chapora river)                         | Chapora-Alorna Fort                                                |
| 6            | Goa                                        | NW-88 (Sal river)                             | Cavolossim-Betul Fort-Betul lighthouse                             |
| 2            | Jammu & Kashmir                            | NW-26 (Chenab river)                          | Reasi-Akhnoor                                                      |
| 2            | Jammu & Kashmir                            | NW-49 (Jhelum river)                          | Wular Lake to PanthaChowk                                          |
| 1            | UT of Ladakh                               | NW-46 (Indus river)                           | Rambirpora-Karu                                                    |
| 1            | Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh & Punjab | NW-84 (Ravi river)                            | Sohar- Mini Goa                                                    |
| 1            | Jharkhand                                  | NW-56 (Kherkai river)                         | Connected with Jamshedpur(NW-96)                                   |
| 4            | Kerala                                     | NW-59 (Kottayam-Vaikom Canal)                 | Kumarakom                                                          |
| 1            | Kerala & Tamil Nadu                        | NW-13 (AVM Canal)                             | Poovar Lake                                                        |
| 9            | Karnataka                                  | NW-41 (Ghataprabha River)                     | Included in Almatti Dam circuit                                    |
| 9            | Karnataka                                  | NW-51 (Kabini river)                          | Local tourism across Reserve forest                                |
| 9            | Karnataka                                  | NW-52 (Kali river)                            | Sadashivgad- Halgejoog-Sea                                         |
| 9            | Karnataka                                  | NW-67 (Malaprabha river)                      | Badami Caves, Pattakadl&Aihole                                     |
| 9            | Karnataka                                  | NW-76 {Panchagangavali (Panchagangoli) River} | Kodi backwaters                                                    |

| No. of NWs   | State(s)                        | Name of NWs                                                               | Cruise Circuits                                    |
|--------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
|              |                                 | NW-90 (Sharavati river)                                                   | Gerusoppa-Honnavar                                 |
|              |                                 | NW-105 (Udayavara River)                                                  | Malpe Sea View                                     |
| 1            | Karnataka & Telangana           | NW-21 (Bheema river)                                                      | Yadgir Fort                                        |
| 9            | Maharashtra                     | NW-11 (Arunawati - Aran River System)                                     | Chincholi Dam                                      |
| 9            | Maharashtra                     | NW-53 (Kalyan-Thane- Mumbai Waterway, Vasai Creek And Ulhas River System) | Urban Transport connecting Navi Mumbai Airport     |
| 9            | Maharashtra                     | NW-83 (Rajpuri Creek)                                                     | Agardanda                                          |
| 9            | Maharashtra                     | NW-85 (Revadanda Creek - Kundalika River System)                          | Revadanda Fort                                     |
| 9            | Maharashtra                     | NW-89 (Savitri River (Bankot Creek)                                       | Harihareswar                                       |
| 3            | Maharashtra & Telangana         | NW-70 (Manjara river)                                                     | Octopus Lake &Nizamsagar Dam                       |
| 3            | Maharashtra & Telangana         | NW-109 (Wainganga - Pranahita River System)                               | Sironcha- Kaleswaram                               |
| 4            | Odisha                          | NW-14 (Baitarni river)                                                    | Bhitarkanika Forest                                |
| 4            | Odisha                          | NW-22 (Birupa - BadiGenguti - Brahmani River System)                      | Lalitgir-Udaigiri-Ratnagiri                        |
| 4            | Odisha                          | NW-23 (BudhaBalanga)                                                      | Balasore-Hidden beach                              |
| 4            | Odisha                          | NW-64 (Mahanadi river)                                                    | Jobra                                              |
| 1            | Odisha, Jharkhand & West Bengal | NW-96 (Subarnrekha River)                                                 | PanteiGhat-Bhusandeswara- Bichitrapur Mangroves    |
| 2            | Punjab & Himachal Pradesh       | NW-17 (Beas river)                                                        | Religious circuits covering 4 gurudwaras           |
| 2            | Punjab & Himachal Pradesh       | NW-98 (Sutlej river)                                                      | Naina Devi-Tattapani&Kiratpur Sahib-Anandpur Sahib |

|   No. of NWs | State(s)         | Name of NWs                              | Cruise Circuits              |
|--------------|------------------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------|
|            8 | Tamil Nadu       | NW-20 (Bhawani river)                    | PavitraSangamam local cruise |
|            8 | Tamil Nadu       | NW-55 (Kaveri - Kollidam River System)   | Chidambaram-Pichavaram       |
|            8 | Tamil Nadu       | NW-75 (Palar river)                      | Palar-Kalpakkam              |
|            8 | Tamil Nadu       | NW-77 (Pazhyar river)                    | Manakudi                     |
|            8 | Tamil Nadu       | NW-80 (Ponniyar river)                   | Cuddalore Town               |
|            8 | Tamil Nadu       | NW-99 ( Tamaraparani River)              | Punnaikayal& Tirunelveli     |
|            8 | Tamil Nadu       | NW-107 (Vaigai river)                    | Madurai                      |
|            2 | West Bengal      | NW-44 (Ichamati river)                   |                              |
|            2 | West Bengal      | NW-97 (Sunderbans Waterways & 13 rivers) |                              |
|           66 | NWs in 24 States | 16 NWs included in DIB                   |                              |
|           66 | NWs in 24 States | 42 NW proposed for development           |                              |

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