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PM Modi flags off MV Ganga Vilas cruise and inaugurates Tent City in Varanasi: Key points

PM Modi flags off MV Ganga Vilas cruise and inaugurates Tent City in Varanasi: Key points

TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Jan 13, 2023, 13:48 IST

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PM Modi virtually flags off World's longest river cruise MV Ganga Vilas

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off the MV Ganga Vilas luxury cruise on the world's longest river voyage from Varanasi to Dibrugarh. "The inauguration of Ganga Vilas will open new vistas for the Eastern India to emerge yet more brighter on the world map of tourism," PM Modi said after the inauguration.
Also See: Ganga vilas cruise launch live updates
"India can't be defined in words, it can only be experienced from heart," PM told foreign tourists on MV Ganga Vilas river cruise.
MV Ganga Vilas is the first-ever cruise vessel to be made in India. This is the symbol of Self-reliant India (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in the River Cruise Sector.

Inside World's Longest River cruise MV Ganga Vilas; cost, features

PM also inaugurated the 'Tent City' built on the banks of river Ganga in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Besides, he also laid the foundation and inaugurate several projects of inland waterways in Bihar, West Bengal and Assam on this occasion.
The flag-off ceremony was held in the presence of Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways - Sarbananda Sonowal, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, besides other Ministers and senior officials from various Ministries & Departments.

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Varanasi to Dibrugarh: Ganga Vilas cruise covers 27 rivers in 51 days

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Here are the key points from PM's speech-

Beginning of cruise service on River Ganga landmark moment, will herald a new age of tourism in India, said PM Modi.
"India has everything that you can imagine, it also has what is beyond your imagination, India cannot be defined in words but can be experienced with heart. India has always opened her heart to everyone, irrespective of religion", PM Modi tells all the tourists taking cruise.
The commencement of MV Ganga Vilas river cruise which will sail over 3200 km is a living example of the development of inland waterways in the country. Work is being done on the development of 111 national water highways across 24 states.

Here are the key points on the cruise-

From Modi’s constituency to Sonowal’s hometown via Bangladesh
MV Ganga Vilas began its journey from Varanasi, PM Modi's constituency, and sail around 3,200 km in 51 days to reach Dibrugarh in Assam via Bangladesh, traversing across 27 river systems in the two countries. Dibrugarh is the hometown of Union shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Tracing India's cultural roots
PM Modi said the 51-day river cruise is a unique opportunity to connect with the country's cultural roots and discover beautiful aspects of its diversity. According to PMO, the cruise has been curated to bring out the best of the country to be showcased to the world.
50 tourist spots
The cruise is planned with visits to 50 tourist spots, including world heritage sites, national parks, river 'ghats' and major cities like Patna in Bihar, Sahibganj in Jharkhand, Kolkata in West Bengal, Dhaka in Bangladesh and Guwahati in Assam.

A luxury cruise
Built to cherish Indian and international design, the modernist ship is 62 meters in length and 12 meters wide and requires a draft of 1.4 meters. With 18 suites and all associated amenities, the vessel has a total carrying capacity of 36 passengers. The cruiser has three decks, 18 suites on board with a capacity of carrying 36 tourists and having all luxury amenities.