Port Blair, Sept 24: M.V. Panchawati was renovated and started as floating restaurant during the period October 2014 as a special tourist attraction by ANIIDCO in association with Directorate of Shipping Services.
During the coming tourist season, floating restaurant is proposed to be operated from 3rd October 2015. The floating restaurant will be operated as evening cruise from 5.00 pm to 6.30 pm and 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm from Junglighat jetty. Entry ticket will be Rs. 500/- for adult and Rs. 350/- for children upto 12 years inclusive of all taxes. The entry ticket price would include one hour evening cruise and live band. Snacks, beverages, liquor and packed dinner shall be available on extra payment. Special rate shall be offered to the islanders.
All travel agents and hoteliers are requested to promote floating restaurant which will be additional tourist attraction for evening cruise. The tickets will be available on sale from Megapode Resort, ANIIDCO petrol pump, Goalghar, IMFL Self Service Shop, Delanipur and Air Ticketing unit, Vikas Bhawan, Port Blair.
Here is a case where we do not have ample boats for ferrying esp. in Chatham to Bambooflat / Dunduspoint and during the last 10 years not a single vessel had been ordered by DSS or other agencies. Wonder whether vessel has any bar license as well as surveyor clearance w.r.t. near coastal voyage or floating restaurant?
While agreeing to the comments made by Kumar, It is really disturbing to note that the floating restaurant which is open for “children” is going to serve liquor. Wonder how come DSS collaborated with ANIIDCO in serving liquor on board its vessel, that to in the presence of children. Certainly all is not well with the officials who lend their hand in collaboration.