Lucknow: Lucknow will get a cruise service on the Gomti river from July to promote river-based tourism.The cruise will accommodate up to 200 passengers per trip. Food services, including lunch, dinner and buffet will be available at an additional cost. Each ride is expected to last 30 to 45 minutes along a fixed stretch from Hanuman Setu to Gomti Barrage.The vessel, measuring about 45m in length and 10m in width, will have multiple decks.The lower deck will include a conference hall, VIP lounge and digital display systems, making it suitable for small events and group bookings.The middle level will feature a banquet space equipped with a stage and bar counter, while the top deck will have an open-air restaurant. A children’s play zone will also be part of the facility.A team comprising a captain and five crew members will manage the operations. During the ride, announcements will be made through a public address system and passengers will receive basic information about the cruise and river ecology.Project in-charges Pankaj Bhagat and Gyan Mani Tripathi said the project will cost Rs 20 crore and is planned under a 30-year lease arrangement, with maintenance scheduled every five years.“The cruise ship is designed so it can also work in four feet of water,” they said.LDA officials said the project will be fully funded by a Kolkata-based private firm that will pay Rs 16 lakh annually as revenue.LDA vice-chairperson Prathmesh Kumar said the facility is being developed to add a new attraction along the Gomti riverfront and create opportunities for tourism-linked activities in the area.
