The Times of India           07.10.2013 

Municipal body floats fresh bids to run Boat Club

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has invited fresh bids from private contractors for managing the Boat Club along the Godavari within the municipal limits, along with the responsibility of cleaning various parts of the river.

The civic body's previous bids in May 2013 had met with poor responses from private agencies. It expects better response to the fresh tenders.

The last date for filing the bids is October 15. The bids are to be opened the same day. The NMC has identified three locations for the project over a 15-km stretch of the river - from Anandwalli weir to Eklahare - in three separate parts: Anandwalli weir to Ahilyabai Holkar bridge in Nashik West division, Ahilyabai Holkar bridge to Kapila Sangam, Tapovan in Panchavati division and Kapila Sangam, Tapovan to Manur-Eklahara in Nashik Road-Panchavati divisions. The private agency taking up the project will also be responsible for keeping the river clean in these three locations.

The contract would be for the period of one year and the agency will have to manage the boat club on its own expenses. The revenue earned is to be used for maintenance of the river and the boats, apart from a royalty to be paid to the civic body.

"Our objective is to make the Godavari pollution-free and also boost tourism. We are expecting a better response to the bids . A monthly royalty will have be paid to the NMC, but the amount has not yet been decided. We will decide upon the royalty after we receive the amount quoted by the agency," an NMC official said.