Tapping Brahmaputra’s tourism potential
An ultra modern cruise launch MV Charaideo is set to embark on its voyage covering Kaziranga and Majuli from Nov 15. 
North East News Agency

GET ready for some adventure and some rollicking on the mighty Brahmaputra. An ultra modern cruise launch MV Charaideo is set to embark on its voyage to upper Assam, covering Kaziranga and Majuli from November 15.  Believe it or not, all voyages till 2004 are already booked. A joint venture between the State Inland Water Transport (IWT) Department and Assam Bengal Navigation Company, the cruiser has 12 air-conditioned rooms besides a conference hall. The entire journey will take 12-15 days with halts at Tezpur and Dikhoumukh.

In dollars, the cost of the package tour is $ 190 per day per person. It is slightly less costly for Indians who pay any how only in rupees. Transport Minister Anjan Dutta said at the launching ceremony of Hallmark, a floating restaurant and a river cruiser at Kacharighat, Uzanbazar, that the department has initiated a number of innovative ventures to tap the immense tourism potential offered by the Brahmaputra, besides promoting it as a major waterway of the country.  “We are acting as facilitators to bring in private participation in the sector, and by doing this we are earning revenue  without any investment,” Dutta said, adding that till some time back the department incurred a loss of Rs 6.5 lakh a year whereas after leasing out a few ships, it is earning a profit of Rs 1.07 lakh. Fourteen old ferries have been modified and renovated for plying as passenger vessels from November. A few of these will run between Guwahati and North Guwahati. Another air-conditioned three-storey 10,000-sq ft fleet is likely to be introduced which will cater specially to marriage parties.

In the offing is the tourist cruiser scheduled to run between Sualkuchi and Mayong covering several temples and monuments. RPL Kaveri, another deluxe fleet is expected to ply between Kaziranga and Tezpur in the days to come. “e are looking for private parties to run these fleets,” N. C. Das, Director, IWT Department said. The launch of Hallmark which combines SB Laikajan, the cruiser and Rajgarh, the floating restaurant, also marked the 10th such fleet on the Brahmaputra in Guwahati.

Nilima Lashkar, a young entrepreneur has taken up this venture on a three-year lease at Rs 7,700 per month from the IWT Department. Besides, she will also have to bear the cost of its maintenance and running. The profit will be shared between the lessee and the department on a 60:40 basis. Minister Anjan Dutta said in order to popularise water transport, the department is introducing the lottery system on the tickets in the line of what is being done in the ASTC bus services. Saying that the ASTC is going from strength to strength, he said 36 new deluxe buses would be introduced soon. .