In an attempt to promote tourism, Chief Minister Minister Akhilesh Yadav flagged off traditional tonga and bus services for tourists saying the UP government was determined to promote the City of Nawab as the next hub of tourist activities.
The Chief Minister also launched Tourist App where information about tourist destinations, hotels and transportations would be just a click away.
“The government has done enough to promote tourism in the city in the past and will continue to do so. Our endeavour is to make this city as the next tourist destination after Agra and Varanasi,” Yadav said at a function held here on Tuesday.
He added the government had improved the infrastructure to attract tourists. "Roads are being repaired and important buildings are being lighted up. lights add sheen to the majestic grandeur of these monuments," he pointed out.
During the function, four tongas, bicycles and buses for tourists were flagged off. The AC buses will ferry between lucknow and Agra. These buses will also ply between lucknow and Neemsaar on Monday and Friday and between lucknow and Ayodhya on Tuesday and Saturday.
Directror General, Tourism, Amrit Abhijat said that buses would start from Gomti Hotel. The fare for Neemsar will be Rs 750 per person while it will be Rs 850 per head on Ayodhya route. All these buses will have a guide, he said
In lucknow, the government has plans to use tongas to take tourists across the city. The tongas are the trade mark of city’s Nawabi tradition and the government is using this traditional mode of transportation to popularise tourism.
The Chief Minister also launched cycle scheme. The tourist can hire these cycles on an hourly basis and will be charged Rs 500 for four hours. The foreign tourists will have to pay Rs 750 for the same time. “This concept is European. In foreign countries, a tourist can hire a cycle and move around the city. The government wants to introduce this concept,” Abhijaat said.
A tourist hiring cycle will be accompanied by a guide who will take the person to various tourist destinations and tell him about the importance of that place, DG, Tourism, said.