Tourism Boat Operations to Papikondalu Remain Suspended Since July 29

Vijayawada:Tourism boat operations on the Godavari River to Papikondalu have remained suspended since July 29, severely disappointing tourists to a destination that attracts around 70,000 people annually, mainly from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Many tourists prefer to travel on double-decker boats along the Godavari, enjoying the greenery, hill ranges, sand dunes and wildlife along the river. The tourist season generally begins with Dasara festival in October and continues until Sankranti in January. Tourists also take boat rides during long weekends.

Lack of standard operating procedures for allowing tourism boats to operate over River Godavari has been affecting this sector for a long time. Water resources department authorities have a rule that Godavari water level should be below 30 metres and discharge should be less than five lakh cusecs at the Polavaram project for allowing boat operations.

An assistant engineer of the water resources department advises Polavaram district administration on allowing or suspending boat operations. If the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts rainfall due to a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal or an imminent cyclonic storm, the AE advises the district administration to suspend operations. The administration then directs boat operators to stop services.

The stand of tourists is that they book boat rides to Papikondalu online in advance and travel from different places to Rajamahendravaram or Bhadrachalam, before proceeding by road to the boating points at Gandi Pochamma Temple and Pochavaram. Tourists say sudden suspension of services due to bad weather, expected rainfall, an imminent cyclonic storm, or a rise in the Godavari water level leaves them disappointed.

Sudden cancellation of bookings and suspension of boat services also leads to arguments between tourists and boat operators over refunds.

Boat operator G.V.V.S.N. Murali Krishna said, “We have been appealing to the authorities for a very long time to come up with a standard procedure by taking all parameters into consideration involving experts to allow or suspend plying of tourism boats on Godavari River to Papikondalu, as it involves promotion of tourism, revenue, and popularising boat ride to Papikondalu. We have also met district authorities on Friday, who assured us to allow plying of boats once the weather turns normal.”

With the state government seeking to promote tourism and the Polavaram project expected to be completed by March next year, tourists are seeking regular boat services with safety measures. Tourism organisations have sought permission to visit the Polavaram project. They have sought amenities, such as new boating points, ghats, toilets, eateries, and hotels along the river, saying these would provide livelihoods to hundreds of people.

Tourism boats operate from Gandi Pochamma and Pochavaram to Papikondalu.

Tourists from parts of AP generally reach Gandi Pochamma, while those from Telangana travel to Pochavaram after visiting the Bhadrachalam temple.

Boat operators charge ₹1,000 for a boat ride and ₹250 per person for road travel to the boating point.

There are 16 boats at Gandi Pochamma and 22 at Pochavaram.