PATNA: The state tourism department has been making efforts to restart the double-decker MV Ganga Vihar, a cruise boat-cum-floating restaurant in the Ganga, from Gandhi Ghat near NIT-Patna campus.
The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation has floated fresh bidding, inviting private companies to operate the cruise on private-public partnership (PPP) mode. The boat has been out of order since 2017. It is now used by local swimmers as a diving board.
“The service of MV Ganga Vihar was stopped after technical snags. Now, we need a private player to repair this cruise and ensure its regular operation on PPP mode. The tenders will be opened on May 6,” the officials said. The BSTDC had earlier floated the tender over 10 times, but no company showed interest. The ship had been purchased for around Rs2 crore and launched in 2009 for the 10km journey from Darbhanga House to Gandhi Setu via Patna College, Tekari House and Gaighat.
