Tripura launches pedal boats, premium Urbania buses to boost tourist footfall

The boats would be used at popular tourist lake sites such as Narikelkunja, Dumbur, Chhabimura, and Neermahal.

In an effort to boost tourist footfall in Tripura, Transport and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Wednesday launched 10 pedal boats and two premium Urbania buses in Agartala.

The income generated from these sources would be utilised for developing connectivity infrastructure and facilities that were previously looked down upon as “petty”, said the minister at the flagging-off programme held at Ujjayanta Palace in Agartala.

“We are working on those petty things that were not given importance earlier (during the former Left Front regime) to develop the tourism sector. As part of it, we procured 50 boats and these boats will reach by next January 15. Of the total 50 boats, 10 have been dedicated for the people staying here,” Chowdhury said, adding that more boats would soon be added to the fleet.

The minister said that a tender would be floated to purchase another 50 boats that are expected to reach next month.

The boats would be used at popular tourist lake sites such as Narikelkunja, Dumbur, Chhabimura, and Neermahal, he added.

Chowdhury mentioned that the two Force Urbania (17+D) buses are meant for transporting tourists from within the state and outside and would be put into service after branding.

Earlier, Chowdhury had stated that the state recorded an increase in tourist footfall after the BJP-IPFT government came to power.

He said that 20,48,780, including 18.69 lakh domestic tourists and 1.79 lakh foreign tourists, had visited the state between 2013 and 2018 and earned a revenue of Rs 15.52 crore. However, the revenue from the tourism sector rose to Rs 31.25 crore from 2018 till date during the tenure of the present government when 21,90, 362 domestic tourists and 4,29, 828 foreign tourists visited the state, Chowdhury said.

He slammed the previous Left Front government for spending only Rs 82.84 crores in tourism sector and highlighted the small works done at Ujjayanta Palace (now state museum), Akhaura Integrated Check-Post, Sepahijala, Neermahal (Water Palace), Tirthamukh, Barmura, Dumbur, etc. On the other hand, the minister said the BJP government spent Rs 44.83 crore for Swadesh Darshan at Unakoti, Rs 37.80 crore for Prasad scheme at Matabari, Rs 180 crore in ADB, Rs 14 crore for special assistance and another Rs 4.24 crore for another special assistance.

He added that projects worth Rs 529 crore are under process in different parts of the state. “We are renovating the tourist destinations, doing retrofitting and refurbishment works. Investments for new tourist destinations are also on,” he said.