VASCO
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the River Cruise Passenger Ferry, built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) for the Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam (UPRNN) at Varanasi through video conference in the presence of officials from the Ministry of Defence and UP government.
The contract to build this ferry was signed between GSL and UPRNN on February 14, 2019 under the “PRASAD scheme” of the central government.
The ferry, designed and constructed for promoting tourism and a mode of transit between the Ghats, is planned to be deployed in River Ganga between Raj Ghat/Ravidas Ghat and Assi Ghat at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, stated GSL in a press note.
The ferry boat underwent a long and arduous voyage of about 5,000 kms from Goa to Varanasi transiting though the Indian Coastal waters and Inland waterways before entering river Ganges this year.
The operation of this ferry will be a prominent attraction for tourists at Varanasi providing them with scenic and mesmerising views of the holy Ghats and temples.
The passenger ferry has been designed and built taking into consideration the unique role it has to play in promoting tourism across the Ganga River.
The ferry has been indigenously designed at GSL incorporating all design features and statutory requirements in line with Classification Rules of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
It has been customised to carry 80 passengers in ergonomically designed cabin spaces located in Lower Deck and Upper Deck with an all-round view.
It has been specially designed with low drafts to cater for the depth constraints in the river. While the hull is built from steel, the composite superstructure provides weight advantage and better corrosion resistance characteristics.
