Rs 1,900-cr for developing tourism infra: CM

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 8

The state government is endeavouring to promote tourism in a big way with emphasis on developing basic infrastructure in virgin tourist destinations.

This was stated by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while reviewing the progress of various projects being implemented with the help of Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the state.

Thakur said a Rs 1,900-crore project, which was to be funded by the ADB, had been approved for the development of tourism infrastructure in the urban and rural areas.

The Chief Minister said the Asian Development Bank-funded projects would help promote tourism in rural, unexplored areas and improve infrastructure in towns, besides generating employment for the youth.

“It will also showcase Himachal as the best natural tourist destination state,” the Chief Minister said. He stressed the need to prepare detailed project reports (DPRs) of various Asian Development Bank-funded projects on time to speed up their implementation.

He added that efforts would be made to create new tourist destinations with self-sustaining infrastructure and facilities.

Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Ram Subhag Singh said since the state had great potential for tourism, the project would include beautification of towns, development of unexplored areas, conservation and restoration of heritage buildings, infrastructure development in adventure, eco, rural tourism with emphasis on community participation and employment generation. He assured the Chief Minister that the DPRs would be prepared within the stipulated time so that the funds were released by the Asian Development Bank.

Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Principal Secretary to Thakur Dr Shrikant Baldi, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjay Kundu, Director, Tourism, CP Verma and Project Director, ADB, Parveen Gupta were also present on the occasion.