Tourism Department to ease bidding norms for projects

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 27

To attract investment for aerial ropeways and commercial sites, advertised by the Tourism Department on lease, the government has decided to give some relaxations and restructure bid parameters to woo investors.

The decision was taken at the 8th meeting of the HP Tourism Development Board chaired by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today.

It was decided to provide some relaxations to the pending ropeway projects for which no bids were received despite inviting expression of interest several times. These projects include Toba to Naina Devi, Shahtalai to Deotsidh, Neugal to Palampur and Sarahan to Bashal Kanda. Suggestions poured in for either developing adventure park or a golf course in Baddi instead of leasing it for developing from tourism point of view.

The Chief Minister stressed the need for promoting the Chanshal valley connecting Dodra Kwar in Shimla district and introducing ski sports on its slopes (4,520 meters). “As compared to the Rohtang Pass, the Chanchal Valley offers much more to visitors and steps should be taken to improve connectivity, besides other amenities,” he stressed.

A decision was also taken to restructure the bid parameters for the commercial sites advertised earlier as there was no response from investors. These sites include Jhatingri (Mandi), Shojha in Banjar in Kullu district and Suketi in Sirmaur district.

It was also stated that the department through the HP Infrastructure Development Board (HPIDB) was in process of developing ropeways projects which included the Rs 150 crore Dharamsala to McLeodganj project for which in-principle approval had been granted under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), the 5.80 km Adi Himani-Chamunda ropeway project, the alignment and survey for which has been finalised, the 8.63 km Palchan-Rohtang ropeway project and Bhuntar-Bijli Mahadev ropeway project for which the bid had been accepted and formalities for signing the agreement was under process.

The board also approved the proposal to prepare promotional films on tourism for which Rs 50 lakh was initially earmarked and the bid now had been finalised.

Vice-Chairman the HP Tourism Board Vijai Singh Mankotia suggested various measures to improve tourism activities in Pong Dam. He said despite several requests to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) for conducting a meeting with the government for starting commercial activities in Pong Dam, the BBMB authorities had not responded.

He urged the Chief Minister to pass directions to the BBMB on this issue. He also showed concern for developing airport. Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mansa Ram, Chief Secretary VC Pharka, Secretary, Language and Culture, Anuradha Thakur, and Secretary, Tourism, Mohan Chauhan, were present.