Assam: Seven Religious Sites, Including Kamakhya, To Be Connected By Waterways In Guwahati

Once operational, the ferry services are expected to reduce the overall travel time to less than two hours for completing one complete circuit.

Guwahati: In a bid to connect seven religious sites by waterways in Guwahati, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Sagarmala Development Company Limited (SDCL), Assam Tourism Development Corporation Limited (ATDC) and Directorate of Inland Water Transport (DIWT) Assam on Friday.

The project is part of the Centre's initiative to develop riverine-based tourism circuit over the Brahmaputra river in Assam.

The signing ceremony will take place in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal.

The project is being developed under the Sagarmala Programme at an initial cost of Rs 40-45 crore. SDCL and IWAI will jointly contribute 55 per cent of the project cost while the remaining will be provided by ATDC.

The DIWT has consented to provide the usage of the river banks near the temples free of cost for the project.

"The project is being developed under the Sagarmala Programme at an initial cost of Rs 40-45 crores. SDCL and IWAI will jointly contribute 55 percent of the project cost while the remaining will be provided by ATDC. DIWT has consented to provide the usage of Ghats near the temples free of cost for the project," the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) said in a statement.

The Sagarmala project will connect the seven historic temples in Guwahati -- Shaktipeeth Kamakhya atop the Neelachal Hills, the Pandunath temple at Maligaon, Aswaklanta and Doul Govinda at Amingaon in North Guwahati, Umananda at the Peacock Island, the smallest inhabited river islet in the middle of river Brahmaputra, Chakreshwar temple at Kalipur and Auniati Satra in Amingaon.

All the seven temples, famous across the country, are situated within the Greater Guwahati area.

The circuit will sail from Hanuman Ghat, Uzan Bazar and will complete its journey by covering all the above-mentioned temples through the waterways.

The ferry services are expected to reduce the overall travel time to less than two hours for completing one complete circuit, thus giving relief and saving time of the pilgrims who come from all over the country.