SB Ranganadi, the airconditioned luxury liner, on its maiden voyage to Umananda on Thursday. Picture by UB Photos

Feb. 19: Tourists to the city will now have a chance to explore its attractions on a cruise vessel. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi inaugurated the air-conditioned SB Ranganadi, which will take visitors to places like Umananda and Dol Gobinda along the bank of the Brahmaputra.

The chief minister sailed in the vessel from Rajaduarghat to Umananda. The glittering double-decker vessel has been built at a cost of Rs 15.92 lakh by the inland waterways transport department, which had taken over the half-constructed boat from a local shipbuilder. It has 28 seats on the main passenger deck.

The inland transport department will soon introduce small luxury cruisers for small groups of tourists in its Guwahati division. “These vessels will be able to carry eight to 10 passengers and mainly target families,” Gogoi said.

Gogoi, a self-admitted cruise-enthusiast, put promotion of river tourism in the state on top of the agenda, saying the Brahmaputra would soon be the most explored waterway in the country.

At a public meeting, Gogoi declared that his government would do everything to ensure that the river becomes a major attraction for domestic as well as foreign tourists.

“I never miss an opportunity to go for a river cruise during my foreign visits. But nowhere in the world have I found a cruise as fascinating as on the majestic Brahmaputra,” he said.

Recounting the programmes taken up by his government to boost river tourism, Gogoi also announced several initiatives that would follow.

The government has released a special plan assistance of Rs 1 crore to the inland water transport during the current fiscal under the state priority scheme for the development of inland transport.

The chief minister gave a boost to another tourist landmark, the Umananda temple, by inaugurating a Rs 35-lakh project for its facelift.

The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has been entrusted with the beautification of the riverine temple.

The project includes the construction of stalls and pathways around the hillock, landscaping of the area and a meditation centre where around 20 to 25 people can meditate together.

Though the project was formally inaugurated today, work had started in November 2003. It is expected to be completed by May this year. A private firm has also pitched in, having constructed a gate and 166 marble steps to reach the temple.

Speaking at a function to mark the inauguration, Gogoi said along with the beautification project, efforts should be made to improve the basic infrastructure on the riverine island so that people can stay there permanently.

The secretary of the temple committee, Amanendra Sarma, said shortage of drinking water and power were the major problems in the area. However, after the GMDA took up the project, things have improved slightly, he added.

“Drinking water is still a problem, but the power supply has improved,” he said. Power is generated on the island from solar energy.

Before the project was implemented last year, Umananda temple stood in a thick jungle on the island. The GMDA officials had worked on a war footing during the past few months to turn the situation around.

“It was so difficult to climb up to the temple before the project began as there were no steps. The temple was surrounded by a thick forest. Now, you can see the change for yourself,” Sarma said, lauding the efforts of the GMDA officials. The civic body has also constructed barracks for the priests inside the temple complex.

The GMDA vice-chairman, M.G.V.K. Bhanu, speaking at the function, lauded the efforts of his officers and staff for working round-the-clock to complete the “uphill task”. He said all the materials, including the marble slabs, were carried to the top manually. Thousands of devotees today thronged the temple on the occasion of Shivratri mela since early morning.