The state's first eco-friendly electric boat trial has begun at Pichola Lake. However, the Udaipur Municipal Corporation seems hesitant to start the operations yet again. The agency behind the project, Jaipur's Shiva Corporation Limited and Coral Associates, has brought only three boats instead of the contracted 15. It will take them 3 to 4 months to get the rest.

The agency is worried about starting with less than 8 boats because they might lose money. These boats are coming from China, so they can't arrive sooner. They got the contract through a tender worth Rs 5.40 crore, and they have already paid half, Rs 2.70 crore, to the corporation.

According to the work order, the agency needs to pay the remaining 50%, which is Rs 2.70 crore, before they can start working. But they are nervous about paying without having boats ready, as they make money from tourists. Also, every year for the next 5 years, the agency has to increase the deposit by 10%. The corporation gave them 90 days to begin work.

There is worry that the agency might struggle because the corporation is in a hurry to get the boats running, similar to what happened with MM Travels, the previous agency. 

Meanwhile, the agency still needs to get fitness and licenses for the three boats they bought. They say it's hard to find electric boats made in India and batteries too. Each boat costs Rs 30 lakh and was bought from Mumbai. After getting a 70% advance payment per boat, the Mumbai party orders them. Then they are made in China and delivered. It takes at least 3 months to make them.

Source: Dainik Bhaskar