Addressing a gathering of people on the 150th Anniversary of the Kolkata Port, Indian PM Narendra Modi made an announcement about the integrated waterway policy by revamping current port infrastructure and merging it with other modes of transport in a transparent manner.
He said that the government’s objective is to make India a major heritage tourism hub. He also said that the dedication of the four heritage buildings namely the Old Belvedere House, Currency Building, Metcalfe House and Victoria Memorial Hall, will start the India-wide campaign to conserve art, culture and heritage of the country as well as to reinvent, rebrand, renovate and re-house the buildings.
Modi also revealed that five iconic museums will also be established in India, in line with international standards. It will start from the Indian Museum in Kolkata, one of the oldest museums in the world.
News has it that PM Modi also said that the government will give priority to river tourism, coastal tourism and cruise tourism. There are plans to set up aquariums, water parks, marine museums, water sports facilities in prime locations along the sea coast. Since a lot of tourists from India visit foreign destinations for cruise vacations, the PM said that work is on to further develop cruise tourism facilities in India. In the coming years, the number of cruise ships on Indian ports will increase to 1000.The PM also mentioned that the Kolkata Port will be named as Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port.
