With a view to enthuse the domestic tourists, the Orissa government plans to launch ‘Mahanadi Eco Heritage Circuit’project on the river Mahanadi.
The project is proposed to be implemented in public-private-partnership (PPP) mode in line with a similar project being implemented by the neighbouring West Bengal government. It will connect the river route from Sonepur to Meramundali passing through Tikarpada gorge.
The tourists will be provided facilities like boarding and food during the journey through the river. The state tourism department is working out the details of the scheme. “Mahanadi river has vast potential for cruise circuit tourism project. We will try to attract tourist with passion for river rafting by this innovative project”, Devi Prasad Misra, tourism minister, Orissa government said.
Talking to the media, Misra said, the department has decided to start a cruise project on the river Mahanadi. It will start from a location between Matamatha and Gadagadia Ghat in Cuttack.
Initially, it will be extended up to Dhabaleswar and may be further extended up to Naraj later. This project will be implemented in PPP mode with the daily management entrusted to a private party. The tourism department will spend about Rs 1 crore for the development of the related infrastructure. A double deck large boat will be provided by the tourism department and the government will get royalty.
This large boat will have basic amenities and the entertainment facilities and can accommodate about 100 to 150 persons, Misra added.
