Bhubaneswar: In a major boost to State tourism, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated the Odisha’s first luxury houseboat at ’ in Barkul in Chilika lake.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the initiative will certainly boost the tourism profile of Chilika lake and attract national and international tourists to the State.
Chilika lake is a major biodiversity hotspot in the country. It is one of the jewels of our tourist sector and has potential to transform Odisha as an attractive tourist destination. My Government is keen to position Odisha as a ecotourism destination of the country, the Chief Minister added.
The luxury houseboat ‘Garuda’ is being operated by Vikash Eco Resorts in Chilika.
Developed with an investment of Rs 3 crore, the initiative is expected to attract tourists from across the country and outside to the Chilika lake.
It is a two floors housing boat with two suite rooms, four premium rooms, a bar and a restaurant. There is an open-air lobby in the upper deck for meetings/conferences. The lounge in the lower floor is air conditioned with a bar and good to accommodate 30 people comfortably with premium luxury.
The project was indigenously designed, developed and manufactured in Barkul, Odisha. It has been approved by Odisha Tourism through single window mechanism and it received licenses/statutory clearances from Chilika Development Authority, Directorate Ports and Inland Water Transport.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Tourism Minister Ashwani Patra, Khordha District Collector Sangram Keshari Mohapatra, SP Shuvendu Kataria, Tourism Director Sachin R Yadav and others.
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