Guwahati to connect 7 religious sites with ‘hop on hop off’ ferry service

Very soon, visitors will be able to visit seven religious sites around the city that will be connected through waterways. As per the latest news reports, an MoU on the same was signed in Guwahati recently.

Reports have it that the project will facilitate 'hop on hop off' ferry service, and will connect the seven historic and religious sites of Kamakhya, Doul Govinda, Pandunath, Aswaklanta, Chakreshwar, Umananda, and Auniati Satra around Guwahati.
As per a press release, the agreement for development of riverine-based religious tourism circuit was inked by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Sagarmala Development Corporation Limited (SDCL), Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC), and the Department of Inland Waterways Transport (DIWT), Government of Assam.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal informed the Centre's resolve to develop the inland waterways potential of Assam and the entire North East for accelerated growth of the region.
If reports are to go by, it’s expected that the development of the riverine based tourism circuit will boost tourism in the region. Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was also present at the programme, added that the initiative will usher a new chapter in the tourism of the state.

The Chief Minister added that religious tourism will get a boost as tourists will enjoy the rich spiritual heritage of Guwahati via this wonderful riverine circuit. The ferry service will start from Hanuman Ghat in Uzan Bazar area and is expected to reduce the overall travel time to less than two hours to complete one circuit.

Reportedly, the project will likely be completed within 12 months, the release added. The INR 45 crore project will be executed by a special purpose vehicle.