Antara Cruises has announced plans to invest more than INR 500 crore over the next five years to strengthen the Brahmaputra as India’s premier luxury river cruise destination. The investment will support the expansion of its fleet, tourism infrastructure and the broader cruise ecosystem in Assam. The announcement follows a meeting between Raj Singh, Founder and Managing Director of Antara Cruises, and Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota, during which the company presented its long-term roadmap for developing river cruise tourism in the state. As part of the expansion, Antara Cruises will deploy four purpose-built luxury river cruise vessels on the Brahmaputra, beginning with the first vessel next year, followed by one new vessel each year thereafter. Each ship will accommodate up to 80 guests and is being designed specifically for the river’s navigational conditions, featuring shallow-draft technology and compliance with the Inland Vessels Act and Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) standards. The new vessels will complement the company’s flagship vessel, MV Ganga Vilas, which currently operates on the Brahmaputra, expanding the region’s capacity to attract both domestic and international luxury travellers. Raj Singh, Founder and Managing Director, Antara Cruises, said, “Our discussions with the Chief Secretary were extremely encouraging. Our priority is to build an enabling ecosystem for river cruising through improved jetties, road connectivity, shore power, safety, and seamless guest movement across destinations. With the right infrastructure in place, Assam has the potential to become India’s leading river cruise destination.” He added that the Brahmaputra has the potential to replicate the economic benefits seen in established global river cruise markets by bringing high-value visitors to destinations beyond major cities. The company has also been working with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to support the development of luxury river cruising in the region. The proposed vessels will incorporate sustainability features, including onboard sewage treatment plants, advanced water filtration systems, shore power connectivity to reduce emissions while berthed, and WWF-approved dolphin deterrent technology. According to Antara Cruises, the investment comes as India’s river cruise sector continues to expand under the Cruise Bharat Mission, which aims to develop 51 river cruise circuits across 14 states and three Union Territories by 2027. Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota said the proposed investment could generate around 5,000 direct and indirect jobs while strengthening tourism, local enterprises, hospitality and cruise-related skills across the state. Go to Source
