PM MODI DEDICATES GSL BUILT 20M VARANASI FERRY TO THE NATION

Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated the River Cruise Passenger Ferry, built by Goa Shipyard Limited to Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam (UPRNN) at Varanasi on 15th July 2021 through video conference in the distinguished presence of dignitaries from Ministry of Defence and UP Govt.

The Contract for building this Ferry was signed between Goa Shipyard and UPRNN on 14 Feb 2019 under the “PRASAD scheme” of the Government of India. This 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. This 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 Goa Shipyard Ltd incorporating all design features and statutory requirements in line with Classification Rules of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). It has been customized 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.

The Ferry Boat underwent a long and arduous voyage of approx. 5000 Kms from Goa to Varanasi transiting though the Indian Coastal waters and Inland waterways before entering river Ganges this year. Operation of this Ferry will be a prominent attraction for tourists at Varanasi providing them with scenic and mesmerizing views of the holy Ghats and Temples.