The city’s sole floating restaurant — MV Ganga Vihar — would be a tad expensive affair from Wednesday.

The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) has decided hike the tariff structure of MV Ganga Vihar by 10 per cent after around two-and-a-half years. The revised tariff, primarily attributed to the successive hikes in the diesel prices, would be effective from Wednesday.

According to the revised tariff, a person getting aboard the floatel for 45 minutes would have to pay Rs 110, Rs 10 more than the existing tariff. The chartered booking price of the entire vessel for two hours has been increased from Rs 11,236 to Rs 12,360. (See chart)

“The last revision in the tariff structure of the restaurant was done in 2012. There have been frequent revisions in diesel prices thereafter. So, BSTDC has decided to hike the tariff by 10 per cent with effect from tomorrow (Wednesday),” said Ravi Prakash, manager, MV Ganga Vihar. The floating restaurant has been sailing between Gandhi Ghat and Gai Ghat since July 21, 2009.

Better services are likely to follow the hike. “We shall replace existing chairs on the vessel with more cushioned and comfortable ones soon. Plans to improve interior decoration are afoot. Moreover, we shall start Internet ticket booking facility for the floating restaurant,” said Ravi.

The air-conditioned restaurant has seats for 48 people. Fifteen more chairs are placed on its roof. The food served in the restaurant is brought from Bhagirathi Vihar located on Gandhi Ghat. The prices of items served on the vessel vary between Rs 350 and Rs 650.

Safe for operation

BSTDC officials have claimed that MV Ganga Vihar would continue to set sail despite the gradual rise in the level of the Ganga. “We had called engineers from Calcutta in March and they have done all the preventive works on the gangway and the jetty at Gandhi Ghat to ensure smooth operation of the floating restaurant even when the level of water is high. Still, we are keeping a close watch on the water level,” said Ravi.