Boat rides dry up at Purana Qila

Facility shut for over 100 days now; authorities unsure when it will reopen as deal with ASI expired

For over 100 days now Delhiites have been missing out on the popular boat ride at Purana Quila, even as the authorities say they are not sure when the facility will re-open.

This popular tourist site has remained closed all winter and though the neighbouring Delhi zoo is now open to the public, after having been kept out of bounds following a bird flu scare, the club continues to wear a sorry look with boats stacked together and the water body all dried up.

Agreement not renewed

Trouble began when the Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC), that was previously running the operations here, was unable to renew its agreement with the Archaeological Survey of India.

A Delhi government official said: “The ASI had referred the matter to the Ministry of Culture which has now asked the India Tourism Development Corporation to run the facility. We hope the place will soon have the public back.”

Water from Yamuna

The Purana Quila lake on average attracted 2,000-4,000 visitors a day and sourced water from the Yamuna and through borewell. “There has been a drop in our revenue,” said a senior official.

Lower footfall

A DTTDC official said the company’s five-year long MoU expired on March 31 last year.

“The ASI allowed us to run the boating club till August 10. Earlier, the agreement used to get renewed on time.

The place has missed the annual high of footfall that we see during the annual trade fair held at Pragati Maidan nearby and New Year, when we get about 7,000 people on an average,” he said.

Officials say that boating previously earned ₹ 6 lakh per month on an average and during the peak season it would go up to ₹ 9 lakh.

“Our monthly electricity bill to maintain the facility comes to around ₹ 45,000 and with 70 boats, we have assets worth ₹ 2 crore lying unused,” said a DTTDC official.

Losing its charm?

Visitors coming to the place too claim that the spot has “lost its charm”.

“The place is very popular with children and we come here during the summer and winter vacation and spend an entire day here. Children love to go to the Delhi Zoo and then come here for a boat ride. This is a clean, affordable place for the middle class and with the facility closing down it has adversely affected us. The place was a good option to keep the children close to nature and also away from the malls. We urge the Delhi government or the Centre to look into the matter and ensure that the place is open to the public as soon a possible,” said Surabhi, a resident of Pandara Road.