Antara Cruises signs MoU with West Bengal to promote river tourism

Transforming West Bengal into India’s premier river tourism hub

Leading river cruise company Antara Cruises has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the West Bengal Transport Department at the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) 2025. This deal valued at INR 8 billion aims to expand luxury river cruise services, develop shipbuilding facilities, and position West Bengal as India’s leading river tourism destination.

Aiming to enhance river tourism and maritime infrastructure in India, leading river cruise company Antara Cruises has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the West Bengal government at the recently concluded 2025 Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS).

According to press statement, this agreement signals Antara Cruise’s commitment to invest INR 8 billion in coming five years in expanding luxury river cruise services, developing shipbuilding facilities and establish West Bengal as India’s leading river tourism destination.

Further, it also adds, that this investment expected to significantly impact West Bengal’s economy, generating thousands of new jobs, benefiting 70-80 pc local skilled workers and labourers, hence contributing to economic empowerment and regional growth.

As per press statement, by prioritising sustainability in its operations, Antara Cruises has implemented cutting-edge technologies such as sewage treatment plants, water purification systems, and waste management protocols. Additionally, it has been actively working to reduce single-use plastics to minimise the environmental impact of its cruises, thus playing a vital role in protecting India’s river ecosystems and cultural heritage for future generations.

Antara Cruises currently operates luxury river cruises connecting Kolkata to Dhaka, Guwahati, Patna, Assam and Varanasi.

With the new investment, the company further plans to construct new cruise vessels at Kolkata’s shipyards, thus tapping into the region’s shipbuilding expertise. This initiative will modernise the maritime sector while also preserving the rich heritage of river navigation.

Meanwhile West Bengal government has signed three MoUs at Bengal global business summit (BGBS) 2025 with Antara Cruises and two other companies, two of which focus on clean and sustainable mobility solutions. By facilitating Antara Cruises’ expansion by providing access to existing jetties and the potential leasing of additional jetties to accommodate the growing fleet, the transport department aims to ensure smooth operations for the river cruises.

“West Bengal boasts some of the most stunning river routes, rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. This collaboration with the government allows us to fully harness the potential of river tourism, providing travellers with exceptional experiences while generating employment, supporting local communities, and fostering sustainable tourism. Our focus goes beyond luxury travel – we aim to cultivate a prosperous and responsible river economy,” says Raj Singh, Founder & Chairman, Antara Cruises.