With the launch of the Cruise Bharat Mission, the government aims to increase river cruise passengers from 0.5 million to 1.5 million.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (photo:ANI)
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) plans to develop 51 new river cruise circuits on 47 national waterways across 14 states and three Union Territories (UTs) by 2027, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said on Monday.
With the launch of the Cruise Bharat Mission, the government aims to increase river cruise passengers from 0.5 million to 1.5 million.
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The mission focuses on upgrading cruise terminals, ports, and related infrastructure, promoting eco-friendly tourism practices using green vessels, and creating numerous employment opportunities in the cruise industry in the coming two years.
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The IWAI has recently signed agreements with several state governments to promote cruise tourism on National Waterways. These include partnerships with the governments of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh for cruise operations on the Narmada River, with the Delhi government for ferries and cruises on the Yamuna, and with the Jammu and Kashmir government for sustainable tourism on the Jhelum, Ravi, and Chenab rivers.
Besides, the IWAI is developing dedicated cruise terminals on the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers, with three cruise terminals planned in Varanasi, Guwahati, Kolkata, and Patna. In the Northeast, four more cruise terminals at Silghat, Biswanath Ghat, Neamati, and Guijan are proposed to be developed by 2027.
The river cruise tourism sector in India has witnessed notable growth, with the number of river cruise voyages on National Waterways increasing from 371 in 2023-24 to 443 in 2024-25. This 19.4 per cent growth underscores the rising appeal and operational efficiency of river cruises in India’s inland waterways.
Adding to this momentum, Viking Cruises has announced its entry into India’s river cruise market with Viking Brahmaputra, an 80-guest vessel scheduled to begin operations in late 2027, signalling heightened interest and investment in India’s river cruise tourism sector. Viking Brahmaputra will be indigenously developed by Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kolkata and will operate on National Waterway-2.
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