MV Ganga Vilas, the company's flagship luxury river cruise vessel operating on the Brahmaputra
River cruise operator Antara Cruises is set to invest more than INR 5 billion over the next five years to expand luxury cruising on the Brahmaputra, introducing four new vessels and supporting tourism infrastructure across Assam.
In a press statement, the company says that 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 & Managing Director, Antara Cruises and Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota, during which the company shared its long-term roadmap for developing river cruise tourism in the state.
The statement says that the investment comes as India’s river cruise sector continues to gather pace. According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, river cruise voyages on India’s National Waterways grew by 19.4 pc in FY2024-25. Under the government’s Cruise Bharat Mission, 51 river cruise circuits are planned across 14 states and three Union Territories by 2027.
The company adds that while Europe’s mature river cruise market welcomed 1.39 million passengers in 2024 and generated EUR 3.54 billion in ticket sales, India has a significant opportunity to emerge as a global destination for premium river tourism.
According to the statement, Antara Cruises will deploy four new purpose-built luxury river cruise vessels on the Brahmaputra, with the first vessel scheduled to begin operations next year, followed by one new vessel every subsequent year. Each vessel will accommodate 80 passengers and is being designed specifically for the Brahmaputra’s navigational conditions, incorporating shallow-draft technology while complying with the latest Inland Vessels Act and Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) standards.
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Raj Singh
The new vessels will complement MV Ganga Vilas, the company’s flagship luxury river cruise vessel operating on the Brahmaputra, and significantly expand Assam’s capacity to attract high-value domestic and international travellers.
“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 passenger movement across destinations. With the right infrastructure in place, Assam has the potential to become India’s leading river cruise destination. Around the world, river cruising has transformed regional economies by bringing high-value travellers to destinations beyond major cities. We believe the Brahmaputra can do the same for Northeast India, creating sustainable employment, supporting local businesses and positioning India on the global luxury river cruise map,” says Singh.
The statement adds that Antara Cruises has been working closely with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to advance the development of luxury river cruising in the region. It says that the meeting with the Assam government forms part of the company’s ongoing efforts to align its long-term plans with the state’s tourism and infrastructure priorities.
According to the statement, the new vessels will incorporate several sustainability-focussed technologies, including onboard sewage treatment plants, advanced water filtration systems, shore power connectivity to minimise emissions while berthed and WWF-approved dolphin deterrent technology to help protect the Brahmaputra’s fragile ecosystem.
“These are purpose-built ships for the Brahmaputra. Every aspect of their design reflects the river’s unique characteristics while adhering to the highest environmental and operational standards,” Singh adds.
