Date:20/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/01/20/stories/2006012002392101.htm

Back Road-river cruise from Vizag

Our Bureau

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation is organising a road-river cruise every Saturday from here to Pattiseema, Polavaram, Papi Kondalu and Perantalapalli in the two Godavari districts. The first package tour will begin this Saturday, according to Mr Jeevan Prasad, Divisional Manager.

At a press meet here, Mr Prasad said a deluxe bus would depart here on Saturday night (10 p.m.) and reach Rajahmundry in the early hours. From there, the tourists would be taken to Pattiseema by road and from there a ride in a houseboat in the Godavari would be organised. The tourists would be brought back here on Monday morning by 6 a.m. or so.

"We have acquired four such houseboats - each at a cost of Rs 25 lakh - for tourism promotion. One of the boats - named after the great British engineer Sir Arthur Cotton, who built the barrage at Dowlaiswaram - would be used for the package tour," Mr Prasad explained.

He said it would cost an adult Rs 1,200 and a child Rs 960 to undertake the tour and till April 15 there would be 20 per cent discount. "Depending on the response of tourists, we will try to increase the frequency of tours," he added.