Fact Check: Why Were Ganga Vilas Cruise Tourists Taken To The Bank In Tug Boats?

Patna: Three days after the Ganga Vilas Cruise was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, tourists had to be taken to the bank from the luxury vessel using tug boats at Doriganj in Bihar’s Chhapra district.

The ship was to dock for tourists to visit Chirand Saran, a renowned archaeological site. ANI reported that shallow water in the Ganga near Doriganj came in the way. A State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) team helped tourists reach Chirand Saran in small boats, according to Chhapra’s Circle Officer Satendra Singha.

The Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways clarified through a PIB release that the anchoring place and mode of transport of tourists to the bank is decided by the cruise operator, depending on safety and privacy of its passengers, and that the draft of waterway at Doriganj is 3.5 metres, much above the vessel draft requirement of 1.4 m.

Dismissing reports that the cruise was stuck at Chhapra, that ministry said that after stopping at Doriganj on January 16, the cruise vessel reached Patna at 4.45 pm.

“All through its journey the waterway levels were fully maintained and monitored for the required draft of with navigation facilities. As per the planned itinerary, the tourists also visited destinations en route, including Doriganj to see the ruins of the fort,” the release said.