Guwahati: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced that two luxury cruise ships, being built at West Bengal’s Hooghly Cochin Shipyard with an investment of ₹250 crore, will be deployed on the Brahmaputra River by 2027. The announcement was made during the Water Voyage Northeast 2025 conference in Guwahati, organised as a precursor to India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai.

The Minister highlighted that under the Cruise Bharat Mission, India is developing 100 river cruise terminals, 10 sea cruise terminals, and 5 marinas. Already, 14 cruise vessels operate on the Brahmaputra, with Guwahati–Dibrugarh routes gaining international recognition. With the new luxury ships, Assam’s River tourism will reach new heights, attracting domestic and global travellers alike.

Sonowal said the initiative marks a new era in river tourism for Assam, adding, “The Brahmaputra is not just a river; it is our lifeline. By investing in modern cruise vessels, terminals, and jetties, we are unlocking Assam’s potential as a global river tourism hub.”

Sarbananda Sonowal also noted that Germany’s Renus Pvt Ltd is constructing 100 barges of various sizes for cargo movement across the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Barak rivers, while 10 new vessels are planned for the Barak by next year. “Cargo growth on waterways has risen from 18 MMT in 2013-14 to 145 MMT in 2023-24. The Northeast is now central to India’s maritime transformation,” he said.

Referring to India’s maritime roadmap, the Union Minister added, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision is to make India a global maritime power by 2047, with 10,000 MMT EXIM cargo and 500 MMT through inland waterways. Assam’s role in this journey will be historic.”

India Maritime Week 2025, scheduled in Mumbai this October, will attract over 100 countries and 100,000 participants, showcasing investment opportunities worth nearly Rs 1 trillion.