Around 750 passengers embarked on a five-day cruise from Chennai to Sri Lanka as Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated India's first international cruise vessel on Monday. The MV Empress cruise, with a capacity for 3,000 passengers, set sail from Chennai port, connecting the ports of Trincomalee, Hambantota, and Jaffna in Sri Lanka. The minister expressed the goal of transforming Chennai into a prominent hub for cruise tourism during an interview with the news agency.

Despite the ship offering various attractions, including casino games where passengers can win or lose money, such gambling activities are deemed illegal in India. However, the operators maintain that the games will only take place in international waters. Sonowal justified the presence of casinos on cruise ships, stating that they contribute to a modern outlook and the prosperity of the cruise industry. Notably, last year, the Puducherry government denied entry to the same vessel due to objections regarding the presence of casinos, among other reasons, when it offered the Chennai-Puducherry-Vishakhapatnam cruise route.

While Chennai port is predominantly recognized as a cargo port, it lacks adequate infrastructure for cruise passengers, including immigration and baggage claim facilities. Sonowal assured the development of Chennai Port to provide visitors with excellent landing facilities and a comfortable experience. Additionally, he emphasized the potential for Tuticorin port to become a cruise hub, offering exciting cruise circuits.

Regarding the revival of the Sethusamudram canal project, which aimed to connect India's east and west coasts without circumnavigating Sri Lanka, the shipping minister remained non-committal, stating that the matter is sub judice. Addressing the existence of Ram Sethu along the proposed route, which had led to the project's suspension, the Union Minister of Science and Technology recently informed Parliament, "pieces and islands and some kind of limestone shoals" were discovered using space technology, but they cannot be conclusively identified as remnants of a bridge. Sonowal dismissed criticism suggesting that the BJP's engagement with Tamil Nadu was a strategic move ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, asserting that the party is committed to promoting development in all states.

Image Source: The Hindu