The grandiose plans chalked out by the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) to introduce a houseboat and two tourist boats in the Kochi backwaters have failed to materialise.
The DTPC’s executive committee had approved the proposal to operate a houseboat ( kettuvallom ) in the Ernakulam-Muziris sector, a year ago. The agency had roped in a houseboat owner to jointly operate his vessel, with the DTPC being primarily responsible for marketing. Sources cited delay in obtaining clearances from government departments as the reason for the initiative failing to kick off. “We cannot afford to own and operate a house boat. The cost would come to over ₹40 lakh, while wages of crew members too will have to be met. Carrying out repairs too would be cumbersome since obtaining sanction for funds is time consuming,” they said.
The agency is now banking on a houseboat that might be introduced to ferry people to Mulavukad and back to the city, to keep alive the interest in Kochi city hosting its first houseboat.
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A proposal to modify two boats owned by the Excise Department and use them for tourism purpose too did not materialise.
This leaves the DTPC with a sole speed boat which was refurbished at the KSINC’s yard here. Even this boat has not begun service, leaving tourists at the mercy of private tourist boat owners who often fleece them.
The proposals to build a 150-seater seaworthy tourist boat and a solar-powered boat too have been put on hold.
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A decision on taking a plunge in the backwater cruise sector might be taken at the DTPC’s executive committee meeting slated for this weekend, sources said.