Do you know what's on Nishjit's cruise ship, other than a DJ and a restaurant?

KOCHI: A pleasure boat built by a Bolgatti man named Nishjit, who embarked on backwater tourism with a rented boat, launched yesterday. Nishjit built an IRS class cruise called 'Classic Imperial' at a cost of more than 10 crores and it is the biggest cruise ship in Kerala.

At 11 am at Ramanthuruth in Kochi backwater, the ship was pulled by a steel rope over the 12-meter long and one-and-a-half-meter high round airbags. Nishjit (47) currently owns four luxury boats and a small boat that ply on the lake.

Nishjit's ships operate from their own jetty on Marine Drive. A nine-meter-long and four-meter-wide floating jetty has also been constructed for this purpose. Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister V Muraleedharan, and state ministers are expected to attend the inauguration ceremony in a few days. Kerala Kaumudi had reported earlier on Nishjit's growth from a watch company representative to a ship owner.

In 2002, Nishjit and his friend ventured into backwater tourism by renting a boat. The first company with two boats was called Aditya Boat Cruise and Tours Operators. Neo Classic Cruises and Tours, which was later formed, built four boats. The construction center was set up by taking the land of the Port Trust at Ramanthuruth near Vallarpadam on a monthly rent of Rs 1,20,000.

His wife is Jensy Phillips. Children: Neeraj, Nijil.

Facilities

DJ, music band, dance, art forms, restaurant, feeding room

Passengers: 150

3-hour journey per person including food: Rs 1,500

Sunset Cruise (Five and a half hours)

Including dinner and high tea: Rs.3,000

Route: Marine Drive - Offshore

Length: 50 meters

Width: 11 meters

Height: 10 meters

It's the day my dreams bloomed flowers. Very happy about this.

Nishjit John