River cruise cum floating restaurant on Sabarmati to start for tourists from June

Keen to make Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati River an attractive destination for tourists, both domestic and international, the Government is all set to launch a floating restaurant on a cruise vessel. The ship, which can accommodate 150 people, at one time, including the crew members, will be launched in June.

The cost of the entire project is Rs.15 crore.

The 90-minute-ride will start from the Sardar Bridge to Gandhi Bridge and onboard the guests will be offered delectable dishes and meals. To entertain them there will be live shows and music.

The charge per person will be Rs.2,000.

Sharing details about this floating restaurant, I.K. Patel, Executive Director of the Sabarmati River Front Development Corporation Limited said: “The Sabarmati riverfront was always envisioned to be vibrant and active for the people of the city.” He added that the plan for launching this type of restaurant was there for long but it has materialised now.

There are two decks in the cruise vessel – lower and upper. While the former is air-conditioned the latter has open sky offering a panoramic view of the surroundings. Patel informed that there will be performances, live shows and displays that will highlight vital events of history connected with Ahmedabad including Gandhiji’s satyagraha and the city’s heritage, etc.

The authorities have decided to offer only lunch and dinner on the cruise. The length of the cruise restaurant is 30 metre in length and 10 metre wide.

While the first trial round of the cruise has been successfully completely, more trials will be conducted before the launch.

Akshay Travels Private Limited which is based in Ahmedabad will operate the cruise and for this they will pay concessions fees of Rs.45 lakh per year to SRFDCL. The contract of manufacturing the vessel was given to Wadia group.

Sabarmati riverfront boasts of several attractions like kayaking, zorbing and boating apart from other facilities.

Watch: PM Modi flags off Varanasi to Dibrugarh river cruise liner, the world’s longest