APTDC staff oppose privatisation of boat rides

The tourism dept earns a revenue of around Rs 12 lakh per annum and also provides safe ride for tourists
With State govt allowing private operators, the employees are against it since it dents their earnings
“We have been operating the services safely for the last three decades,” says a senior employee

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) will lose its revenue on boat riding in Krishna river, Vijayawada, due to the decisions taken by the government to promote private boat operations for the same.

The APTDC has been operating boats in Krishna river by collecting nominal fares of Rs 50 from Berham park in Bhavani Puram to Bhavani island.The APTDC owns 12 boats and steamers and appointed 29 members staff including boat drivers and helpers for the boat riding in Krishna river.

So far, the APTDC is successfully operating boat services in Krishna river and earning Rs 11 to 12 lakh every year.On holidays and festival days, more than 2,000 tourists enjoy the ride in River Krishna.

However, the recent decision taken by State government to give permission to the private parties to operate boat riding in Krishna river sparked off criticism from the employees.

The employees claim that the decision would dent the revenues of APTDC in a big way. About 120 tourists can go for a joyful boat ride in Bodhisiri, the biggest cruise.

Other boats like Bhavani, Amarpali and Krishnaveni have 60 seats capacity. Besides, the APTDC has four seater and single seater boats.

During the Krishna Pushkaralu in August 2016, the APTDC earned Rs 18 lakh revenue and got income of Rs 35 lakh during the Kartika Maasam which ended two weeks ago.

As part of the agreement with government, the private operators tried to start their services last week near the Berham park, where APTDC issues boat riding tickets.

The employees of APTDC strongly objected to it and made it clear that they would not allow them to operate from Berham park.They said the government can encourage private parties if the APTDC fails to run the boats successfully.

They claim that there is huge response and demand for boat services during the holidays and festival season. G Srinivasa Rao, a senior employee of the APTDC said the State government is encouraging private parties instead of purchasing new boats for the APTDC, which he said is successfully operating boat riding operations for more than three decades.

He said the APTDC boats have insurance facility and permission obtained from State irrigation department to operate boat services in Krishna river.

He alleged that private operators neither take permission nor have insurance for their boats. APTDC Vijayawada Divisional manager V V S Gangaraju said the department earns Rs 12 lakh per year on an average on boat riding services. He said the APTDC is generating revenue despite sailing on some old boats.

Meanwhile, the private boats operated by Champions Yatching club at Bhavani island was seized two weeks ago by vigilance department for not taking permission for the boat riding operations.

The employees of APTDC are claiming that the private operators don’t recruit trained boat drivers and staff and don’t take permission from irrigation department to operate their services.