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Showing posts with label Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation. Show all posts

Sunday 1 November 2009

Sonepur Mela begins

The Sonepur fair in Bihar, described as Asia’s largest cattle fair, has formally begun attracting a huge number of cattle from across the country, officials said today.

The fair began here last evening with deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi formally inaugurating it amid a galaxy of ministers.

“We will develop it as a modern fair having international look and quality of services”, Modi announced while inaugurating the fair.

According to officials, about 60 foreign tourists from Japan, Germany, Australia and Austria have booked their lodging in the tastefully-designed cottages having traditional look to enjoy the fair.

“We are providing every facility to the foreign guests to attract more and more tourists in our cottages decorated with traditional items”, said Ajay Kumar, in-charge of the cottages being managed by State Tourism Development Corporation.

Officials also said more than a lakh oxen, cows, bulls, elephants and horses have already reached the fair and have become the centre of attraction for the visitors.

One of the cattle businessmen Suresh Rai sold a pair of oxens for Rs 71,000 at the fair, officials said.

The fair will continue for 30 days, instead of 25 which was its earlier period.

Monday 20 July 2009

Floating restaurant in Ganga inaugurated by Nitish Kumar

“It’s an amazing experience to watch the sun set from this vessel... This is something like Shaam-e-Magadh,” exulted chief minister Nitish Kumar as he sat in the air-conditioned floating restaurant, MV Ganga Vihar, on Monday evening.

Nitish was on board to inaugurate this novel restaurant which will be operated by the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation on the Ganga river twice every day. As the vessel anchored off the city’s Gandhi Ghat and chugged down the river, ideas started floated into the CM’s mind. “I will hold a Cabinet meeting on it — a floating Cabinet meeting,” he said.

Development commissioner Anup Mukherjee was asked on the spot to organize the meet. And yes, the CM and his ministers won’t be free-trippers. “The government will pay for it,” Nitish said while turning towards culture secretary Vivek Kumar Singh.

“Cruising down the Ganga is a heart-soothing experience. The government will take some major decisions while afloat,” he said and added this floating restaurant is yet another example of changing Bihar.

The floating restaurant should be made available on rent for social and family functions like birthday and marriage, was another idea the CM came up with.

“I think people will prefer this novel venue to hotels more so because this will be cheaper @ Rs 20,000 for four hours,” he said.

Yet another idea of the CM needed some quick actions to translate that into reality. In response to Nitish’s advice “let this vessel be booked by people for viewing solar eclipse on Wednesday morning”, tourism department’s bosses immediately decided to offer an entry ticket of Rs 100 each at 4 in the morning on Wednesday. The tickets along with sunglasses can be have from Kautilya Vihar and Chandragupta Swimming Pool at the Moinul Haq Stadium.

The vessel sailed up to the Collectorate Ghat and turned for downstream cruise up to Gandhi Setu from where it returned and was anchored at the Gandhi Ghat. Seeing the Gandhi Setu from under it, Nitish looked a bit worried at its dilapidated condition. “It should be used only by light vehicles,” he said.

Nitish said if the cruise restaurant proves a success, more vessels would be pressed into service. “Private operators would be welcome to run the show,” he said.

Referring to the proposed Marine Drive along the Ganga from Digha to Patna Saheb, he said its DPR is being prepared. A DPR for the River Front is also under preparation, he added.link