The lodge in Nagaon. Picture by Sarat Sarma

Dec. 25: A government lodge in Nagaon that stopped organising conducted tours 15 years ago following an accident is ready to make a comeback with a new aim — tourism for the grassroots.

Dispur released Rs 70 lakh from the state plan to build the necessary infrastructure that will allow the lodge to begin its tours again.

It was in 1992 that the tourism officer at the lodge, Nilamoni Sarma, came up with the idea of conducted trips around Assam — to Kaziranga, Batadraba, Silghat, the Kamakhya temples in Sivasagar and Sonitpur, Jatinga in North Cachar Hills and certain tourist addresses in Jorhat, Golaghat and Nagaon.

The idea suited visitors.

All they needed to do was drop their luggage at the lodge, located on the bank of the Kolong, and sign in. The rest of the trip was the lodge’s responsibility.

“The lodge had a bus that used to ferry tourists to the sites. Along with villagers, those from outside, including foreigners, also joined us. Who can forget those days? The orange squash being served to tourists in North Cachar Hills, or a elephant ride in Kaziranga? If everything comes back, it will be the greatest news,” said Sarma, who had organised the first trip in 1992.

The tour was stopped after a department vehicle met with a major accident in 1993, he said.

Next year, the package trips will be launched on a public-private partnership.

Deputy commissioner J. Balaji said a multistoreyed building would be constructed on the lodge campus to make space for more tourists.

“Keeping in mind the requirement of guests, all sophisticated facilities would be made available at the lodge,” Balaji said.

The restaurant will also be upgraded.

Tourism minister Rockybul Hussain laid the foundation stone of the infrastructure building project in Nagaon recently.

But unlike the last time, the new package will also be aimed at the villagers who have never had a chance to step out of their neighbourhood.

“Most of our local villagers do not have any idea about these sites. Our conducted tour package might give them the chance to visit these sites on a minimum budget,” said Nagaon information and public relations officer Rajib Saikia.