Srinagar, Aug 5 : An 18-seater cruise boat has resumed operations on the famous Dal Lake in Srinagar after being non-operational for nearly eight years, marking a fresh push to strengthen water tourism in the Kashmir Valley.
The restored cruise boat, officials said, is part of the Tourism Department's efforts to revive existing tourism infrastructure and provide visitors with new experiences at the iconic lake.
Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajjad said the department's immediate focus is on reviving and operationalising existing tourism assets before introducing new projects.
"Whatever assets we have, we need to revive and make them operational before pushing bigger boats," he said.
The Director said the revival of the cruise boat reflects the department's commitment to improving facilities for tourists and making Dal Lake more attractive for visitors. He, however, said there is no immediate plan for developing a dedicated water tourism circuit connecting Dal Lake, Nigeen Lake and other water bodies.
Along with the 18-seater cruise boat, three small recreational boats are now available at Dal Lake. One boat was already operational, another was brought from the Jhelum River, while the third was repaired and restored.
It is noteworthy that, on May 4 this year, Cabinet Minister Satish Sharma had announced that major lakes and river stretches in Kashmir would soon witness cruise and steamer operations under a proposed Rs 900 crore project.
The proposed network, he had said, would cover Wular Lake, Dal Lake, Nigeen Lake and nearly 62 kilometres of the Jhelum River. The initiative aims to reduce congestion, create employment opportunities and expand tourism-related activities.
The Tourism Department believes that restoring the cruise boat on Dal Lake will expand the range of experiences available to visitors and strengthen Kashmir's position as a destination for water-based tourism.