From tourism dream to dust: Harike's Rs 8.6 crore amphibious bus lies idle

The Swiss-made amphibious bus, procured at a cost of Rs 8.6 crore with the aim of boosting tourism at Harike Wetland, continues to gather dust for the last 10 years as the state government has not taken any final decision on the matter so far.

Meanwhile, another team has reportedly been set up under the Tourism and Culture Department to take a final call on the utilisation of the imported bus or its disposal. As per information, even the Transport Department had washed its hands off, refusing to register the bus in the absence of any existing provision.

Earlier, this much-hyped project, the “brainchild” of the then Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, was launched on December 12, 2016, to transform the Harike Wetland into a major tourist destination. The amphibious bus, manufactured by Swedish automobile giant Scania, had gained overnight popularity as the “Paani Wali Bus” in the region even before it made its first sortie with Sukhbir and a group of SAD MLAs on board. This 48-seater bus was designed to offer a 3 km water ride in Harike after travelling by road from Amritsar, for which a dedicated ramp was also constructed at a cost of Rs 72 lakh to facilitate its entry into the water.

In its brief operational span, it ran for only 10 days, catering to 97 tourists and generating a revenue of Rs 77,600, with tickets priced at Rs 800 per person. As per information, around 150 personnel were engaged in the project, including maintenance and operational staff.

However, the project soon ran into controversy due to low water levels at Harike. In an attempt to sustain operations, additional water was reportedly released, which led to flooding in nearby agricultural fields, submerging nearly 500 acres of standing wheat crop and triggering resentment among local farmers.

Subsequently, following the change of regime, the then Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu announced the scrapping of the project during his visit to Harike on June 16, 2017. Terming the project “ill-conceived” and a waste of public money, he ordered the immediate discontinuation of the amphibious bus service. Sidhu also announced alternative plans, including the introduction of pedal boats or shikaras, development of tourist accommodation such as tents, nature trails, and even proposals to introduce dolphins to enhance the site’s appeal; however, none of these proposals materialised on the ground.

Although the Tourism Department had at one point initiated the process to auction the bus after scrapping the project, the move reportedly got entangled in procedural wrangles, leaving the costly asset abandoned to this day.

“Harike Bird Sanctuary, which is a designated Ramsar site, holds immense potential to generate significant revenue and attract both domestic and international tourists,” said historian Dr Rameshwar Singh, adding that its proximity to Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport further enhances its viability as a global tourist destination.

“Unfortunately, due to lack of planning, this amphibious bus project has become a victim of political mudslinging and government apathy,” he said, further stating that had the project been properly implemented, it would have generated employment and business opportunities, boosting the region’s economy.

Meanwhile, sources in the Tourism Department revealed that a final decision on the utilisation of the bus, which has become symbolic of missed opportunities and red tapism, is still awaited.