Boat ride in KB project, restaurant turn temporary show in Asifabad
A Rs 65-lakh tourism initiative featuring a boat ride and lake-view restaurant at the Kumram Bheem Irrigation Project in Asifabad lies abandoned after three years. Authorities cite falling water levels and declining visitors, though revival efforts are reportedly underway.
Kumram Bheem Asifabad: A boat ride and a lake-view restaurant introduced at the Kumram Bheem Irrigation Project in Ada village have turned into a short-lived endeavor just three years after their launch, owing to dropping water levels and declining tourist footfall.
Both the motorized boat ride—the first of its kind in the area—and the restaurant were set up at the irrigation project in 2023 to boost local tourism, drawing visitors from the district as well as neighboring Mancherial and Adilabad. The initiatives were launched with investments of Rs 25 lakh and Rs 40 lakh respectively, driven by former Collector Rahul Raj.
In line with officials’ initial expectations, the boat ride received an enthusiastic response from tourists and nature lovers during its first two years, attracting large weekend crowds. Visitors frequently bought refreshments at the restaurant, with boat tickets priced at Rs 50 per person.
However, the boat has remained grounded for the past few months due to lack of demand. It now sits docked on the reservoir bank as water levels have dropped significantly following sparse rainfall. Left unused for an extended period, key components of the boat have begun to rust.
Similarly, the lake-view restaurant lies abandoned and fallen into disrepair, becoming a haunt for anti-social elements and accumulating trash. The building’s doors and windows have suffered extensive damage. Management of the facility, previously handled by ITDA-Utnoor, was recently handed over to the Ada Gram Panchayat for operations.
Local residents and nature enthusiasts have urged authorities to revive the boating facility and restore the restaurant to boost regional tourism. They pointed out that the district holds immense tourism potential, anchored by famous natural attractions such as the Mitte, Chintalamadara, and Babejhari waterfalls.
Meanwhile, tourism officials stated that efforts are underway to revive the sector by reintroducing the boating service soon and ensuring optimal utilization of the restaurant.