MP Tourism Board and IWAI sign MoU for cruise sailing in Narmada from Statue of Oneness to Statue of Unity

KUKSHI : The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the Government of Gujarat. Under the terms of the MoU, IWAI has committed to providing two floating jetties to both Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

These pontoons are going to be used as terminals for pontoon cruises, an initiative led by the Tourism Board to boost tourism across the state. The proposed cruise route will begin from Ekatma Dham (Statue of Oneness) in Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh, and journey to the Statue of Unity in Kevadiya, Gujarat.

As part of this partnership, the pontoons have been dispatched from Kolkata to Kukshi in Madhya Pradesh.

The agreement aims to facilitate the smooth movement of cruise ships along the Narmada River between Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary of the Tourism and Culture Department, and Managing Director of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board revealed that a 120 km route has been planned from the Statue of Unity in Kevadiya to Chandankhedi, Kukshi. Tourists will then be transported by road from Kukshi to the Statue of Oneness in Omkareshwar, with stops at Maheshwar, Mandleshwar, and Mandu along the route. To facilitate this, four jetties will be established, two in Madhya Pradesh and two in Gujarat.

The state government will also develop additional infrastructure and amenities for cruise tourism, promoting economic growth in the region and benefiting the local population.

Pontoons, serving as floating platforms, will be strategically placed along the ghats, ensuring safe and comfortable passage for tourists during their cruise adventures.