Bhopal, June 5 (IANS): In a bid to woo tourists, the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation is planning to introduce water tourism, like mini-cruise liner and houseboats, in the state, officials said.

State Tourism Development Corporation chief Tapan Bhaumik, during a meeting here on Saturday, said the corporation is planning to introduce houseboat rides in Hanuwantiya, located in the reservoir of Indira Sagar Dam on Narmada river.

Boat rides will also be made available between Tawa resort, on the Tawa river in Hoshangabad district, and Madhai resort in Satpura National Park.

Water sports would be promoted at Ban Sagar on Sone river in Shahdol district, and Omkareshwar, one of the major religious places near Indore, on Narmada river.

The department has already conducted a survey on running a mini-cruise liner, which will start from Barwani on the banks of Narmada river to Sardar Sarovar in Gujarat -- a distance of around 200 km.

For implementation of this plan, the Madhya Pradesh government is in talks with the government of Gujurat.

There will be a water tourism carnival at Hanuwantiya this year, Bhaumik added.

Director General of Tourism Development Corporation Hari Ranjan Rao, Additional Managing Director Tanvi Sundriyal and other officials of the corporation elaborated on the proposals on water tourism.

The tourism department is also to set up a big hotel in Indore and upgrade hotels in Bhopal, Jabalpur and Gwalior at a cost of Rs 50 crore.

According to officials, the state government is planning to set up tourism help centres -- on the lines of its Highway-Treat Dodi restaurants -- on the Bhopal-Indore highway.

These help centres will be located at every 40 to 50 km of distance. Work on 46 such help centres is almost complete while work on 15 centres is on.