2024-09-02 16:50:15
Sushil Kumar, Lucknow/Prayagraj: The state government is working rapidly to attract tourists to UP. New schemes are being launched to provide thrilling experiences along with religious tourism at the major religious places of the state. Now the tourism department is going to operate catamarans again in Ayodhya and Kashi after the rains. Mini cruise boats will be launched in Prayagraj. Preparations for this have been started.
Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh said that there are immense possibilities of water sports in UP, which are being brought to reality. He said that last year more than 48 crore tourists have visited the world famous religious-spiritual, eco and other places here. To attract tourists, work is being done rapidly on rural, agri, water sports. In this sequence, water sports activities are being started in Ayodhya, Kashi and Prayagraj.
The Tourism Minister informed that the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) had handed over catamarans in Ayodhya and Kashi and electric boats in Prayagraj to the Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Corporation last month. The fully air-conditioned catamaran has a seating arrangement for 50 people, while two mini cruise boats in Prayagraj have a seating arrangement for 30-30 people and 06 motor boats have a seating arrangement for 06 tourists.
Apart from these boats, there are also two rescue boats. The process of operating them has been started by the Tourism Corporation. Tender has been issued for operating them on PPP mode in future. All these will be operated regularly after the rainy season.
Boats will increase in Ayodhya Jaiveer Singh said that two more boats will be added in view of the number of tourists in Ayodhya. These boats will be operated on solar energy. NEDA will hand them over. These will also be 30-30 seater boats.