GUWAHATI: The Assam government unveiled a series of services to upgrade the state’s inland waterways network on Thursday.
To improve the efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability of state’s water transportation system, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a fleet of 10 catamaran vessels under the Inland Water Transport (IWT) department at Lachit Ghat in Guwahati, on Thursday.
“The 10 catamaran ships, valued at Rs 39 crore, will be strategically allocated, with three each designated for ghats in Guwahati and Majuli, and two will be allocated to tourism, among others,” he said.
The Chief Minister further informed that one of the tourism-focused vessels will travel from Silghat in Koliabor to Biswanath Ghat via Kaziranga, offering tourists an opportunity to explore the region’s exquisite beauty.
“The other will provide a convenient hop-on-hop-off ship service connecting religious sites in Guwahati such as Kamakhya, Aswaklanta, Dol Govindo, and Umananda before returning to the Gateway terminal,” he said, adding that this innovative service will be based on models used in other countries. “In Kamakhya, hanging bridges will be constructed for tourists to access the temple, enhancing the overall tourism experience,” he said.
Chief Minister Sarma added that to make the hop-on-hop-off service a reality, the Sagarmala development project has inked an agreement with Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDCL).
The state-of-the-art steel catamaran vessels will be equipped with advanced navigational tools capable of operating at high speeds even in low-draught waters. They will have the capacity to carry around 100 passengers and six four-wheelers, making them a versatile addition to Assam’s water transport fleet.
In addition to the catamaran vessels, three tug boats, valued at Rs 15.75 crores and a Search and Rescue (SAR) boat, costing Rs 1.79 crore, were also introduced to bolster emergency response capabilities within the water transport system.
