Odisha plans day cruise service at five water bodies

Bhubaneswar: Odisha tourism department has decided to operate day cruise service at five selected water bodies with private sector participation to boost tourism in the state.

The Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) has invited tenders from luxury ships operators by July 10 to ply cruise ships in the inland large water bodies in the state.

The cruise will be introdeced in inland water bodies like Chilika Lake, Mahanadi, Hirakud Dam reservoir, Bhitarkanika and Satkosia.

Odisha has a long coast line measuring approximately 482 km, five major rivers, reservoirs and water bodies including Chilika, the largest brackish water lake of Asia.

To unlock the tremendous tourism potential, the State Government is looking forward to developing day cruises at five attractive water bodies.

The Odisha Tourism Policy 2016 offers many fiscal incentives to projects like water sports, adventure sports, house boat, cruise tourism project, aquarium, aqua-park etc. by way of investment and interest subsidy with an intention to promote private sector investments.

Fiscal incentives are also available under large revenue-generating projects scheme of Government of India.