Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday described the flagging off of the world’s largest river cruise ‘MV Ganga Vilas’ by Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually, as the beginning of a new era of tourism in Varanasi.
He said the advance booking of this cruise for the next two years was its glaring example.
The chief minister expressed his gratitude to the prime minister for the beginning of the journey of this world’s cruise from Varanasi, saying today, Varanasi was advancing with new identification.
“Today’s flagging off ceremony reflects the new height of the success of Namami Gange,” he said and added that the people were now taking bath in Ganga the water of which was not even fit for ‘aachman’ eight years back.
“Uttar Pradesh, surrounded by land, always faced problems in sending agriculture and micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) products to the international markets as these were expensive in the past but after the linking of the eastern port to Varanasi, the cost of freight and products has become affordable,” he said.
The chief minister said the success of Namami Gange had brought a positive change in the life of more than 1,600 boatmen as they were now earning the income of one year in a day after their boats were linked to CNG.
Union Minister for Shipping, Ports and Waterways Sarbanand Sonowal said that the flagging off of ‘MV Ganga Vilas’ cruise would not only promote tourism in this region but also open new avenues of trade and commerce.