Mr. Jora was taking a review meeting of Tourism Development Authorities here today. These Authorities have been created with the objective of tapping tourism potential in new locales of the State.
Secretary Tourism, Mrs. Tanveer Jehan, MD, JKTDC, Mr. M. Y. Qadri, Director, Tourism, Jammu, Mr. S. M. Sahni and the Chief Executive Officers of all the Tourism Development Authorities attended the meeting.
While reviewing works underway at Patnitop, the CEO said that an Aerial Passenger Ropeway would be installed from Kud to Patnitop at a project cost of Rs. 60 crore. Already approved by the Central Government, the Authority is in the process of completion of formalities with Forest Department for laying of the aerial ropeway. The CEO also said that execution of Rs. 7.19 crore Mall Road, near Kud is currently in progress and so far Rs. 5.60 crore have been expended on the project. He informed the Minister that tourist-related infrastructure including huts, hotels, guesthouses, tourist reception centres, parking spaces have been upgraded to facilitate tourists. He also added that development work at Sanasar Lake has also been started.
While reviewing the pace of tourism-related work in Rajouri district, the CEO, Rajouri informed the Minister that construction of TRCs at Shahdra Sharief, Chingus and Rajouri is currently in progress. He also said that construction of wayside amenities at Sunderbani, Palma and Manjakote, besides construction of interpretation centres at Rajouri and development of base camps at Kotranka and Darhal, at a cost of Rs. 4.44 crore, is in final stages and will be completed soon.
The work on 14 tourism-related projects falling under Poonch Tourism Development Authority have been approved out of which five projects have been taken up so far which include construction of TRCs at Gulpur, Surankote and Mendhar besides tourism recreational infrastructure at Takiya Sharief is in progress.
The meeting also reviewed the pace of work on the execution of Rs. 21.78-crore three Tourism Circuits at Lakhanpur-Bani-Basohli, Bhaderwah-Doda-Kishtwar-Simthan-Srinagar and Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch. So far, Rs. 8.78 crore have been utilized on various works in all the three Circuits. Once complete, these circuits will be equipped with facilities like traveller mart, art development centre, TRCs, wayside recreations, hot-water springs, heritage cottages and tourism huts.
Under Bhaderwah TDA, the infrastructure like construction of TRC, viewpoints, children's park, lillium garden at Lake View Resort, Gatha, have been created, the CEO informed the Minister.
The meeting also reviewed the ongoing work on projects of Kishtwar TDA and it was given that construction of TRC and other amenities at Barnoyari are being completed at a cost of Rs 1.58 crore. The CEO said that infrastructure at Bimalnag and renovation work of temple therein have been completed.
CEO, Surinsar-Mansar, TDA, while giving a factfile of his Authority, informed the Minister that Rs 3.19 crore are being spent during current financial year on various works. He said facilities like parking lot, shopping complex and amusement park have been created at Mansar while as construction of club, fast-food shop and viewing decks there are in progress. He said Rs 1.96 crore, out of the current year's outlay, have been incurred so far on the development of various tourism-related infrastructure.
After taking a detailed review of all the TDAs, Mr. Jora instructed the concerned CEOs to personally monitor the work on the projects underway so that they are completed in time for the coming tourist season. He also issued instructions for formulation and submission of project reports for development and exploration of new tourist spots in the region. He also said that he would personally visit all the tourism development authorities for a firsthand assessment of the works being executed.
The Minister also called for involvement of local people so that they also benefit from creation of tourism infrastructure as the same has the potential of generating employment as well boost economy of the region
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