This tourist season, visitors to Nal Sarovar will be able to book their tickets to the sanctuary from the comfort of their homes.

What is more, they can book a boat-ride in the sanctuary at the click of a mouse.

For, the forest department plans to provide online facilities to book tickets to the sanctuary and boatrides in the sanctuary premises.

“The facility is likely to be operational from this season onwards, which begins in September-October,” said Dr Sasikumar, deputy conservator of forests (DCF), Nal Sarovar.

According to Sasikumar, this is one of the facilities offered as part of the 10-point initiative proposed for the sanctuary to make it more tourist- friendly. He said they had also been receiving several complaints about boatmen overcharging the tourists and heckling them in a bid to get potential customers.

The officer further said that with this facility, one can book a ticket for the sanctuary, a boat-ride and a guide too, before even beginning the journey. As of now, they are pulling on the option of online payment. Otherwise, tourists can bring a print out of the booking and pay at the counter itself. “We are working on the software for the same on the lines of the one operational in Sasan Gir. We are most likely to be following the Sasan model,” he said.

This would also eliminate the risk of tourists getting fleeced by unscrupulous boat operators. The rates would be fixed and clearly stated so there would be no question of tourists being cheated, added Sasikumar.

Further, the department plans to grade the boatmen on the basis of their education and the quality of service they provide.

“For example, there will be various categories for boatmen, who offer exclusive services and cater to school groups etc,” said Dr Sasikumar. The officer further stated that they had recently carried out a guide training programme as well as part of this initiative.

“Most of the guides being trained are poor but graduate unemployed youngsters. Moreover, providing them with a job opportunity will ensure that they do not indulge in poaching activities,” said Sasikumar.

Nal Sarovar has close to 250 boatmen operating in the area and the forest department plans to divide them into batches of 50 each for a fixed time slot, thus, ensuring that everyone has equal access to customers.

Tourists, who do not wish to book online, can still visit the sanctuary, buy tickets and opt for a boat-ride on their own.