After a seven-year-long wait, the State Irrigation Department has relaunched the tourist boat service in the Bhoothathankettu-Thattekkad circuit connecting nearby tourist spots.
The service, a joint venture of the Department and the Tourism Department, was formally inaugurated by Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar at a function here on Sunday.
The Minister said the Tourism Department would initiate more projects to exploit the tourism potential of the eastern part of the district. All possible steps would be taken for the development of infrastructure in the area.
The government stopped the services on the route against the backdrop of the Thattekkad boat tragedy in February 2007 which claimed 18 lives. Following the demand of the public, the Department had mooted a proposal to the government for resuming the tourist boat service, said T U Kuruvila MLA.
The services will commence from the DTPC ferry at Bhoothathankettu. Tourists can sail over the waters of Neryamangalam, Kuttampuzha and Thattekkad that covers a distance of 17 km and end their trip at Bhoothathankettu. Taking security issues in consideration the timing has been scheduled between 7 am and 6 pm. Houseboats and speed boats will be available for the time being, said the MLA.
He said there are only two boat jetties in the proposed circuit, one at Bhoothathankettu and another at Thattekkad. There is a plan to set up ferries at Kuttampuzha and Neryamangalam and the construction of the ferries will commence soon.
All the security norms will be stringently monitored for the boat services. As a trial run, houseboats and speedboats glided over the waters for seven days on the route during the Bhoothathankettu River fest that concluded last December and it was a success, said the MLA
Now, a private boat operator has been entrusted with the project and the service is expected to be launched this week. More boat operators and tourism service providers, including District Tourism Promotion Council, are expected to launch services soon.
T U Kuruvila MLA presided over the function and P T Thomas MP delivered the keynote address.