Rs 50-cr development plan for Chintpurni shrine

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 10

The plans of the State Tourism department to regulate and promote temple tourism on the pattern of Tirupati and Vaishno Devi received a major boost as Centre has approved a Rs 50 crore project for development of Chintpurni shrine in Una district.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday informed that the Union Ministry of Tourism has approved a Rs 50-crore project for the development of Chintpurni temple under the scheme “Prasad.” He said that with this proposed project, the state will be able to develop infrastructure and basic facilities for the tourists at Chintpurani.

Chintpurni Devi Temple is one of the 51 Shaktipeethas in the state and almost 16 lakh tourists visit the shrine every year.

The Chief Minister said presently there was congestion near the shrine and the place also lacks basic facilities for the tourists. “Efforts will be made to develop basic amenities adjoining the temple complex for pilgrims like improvement of streets, introduction of non-polluting public traffic system, new alternate path, disabled friendly infrastructure and a new block for the pilgrims,” he said.

Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism & Civil Aviation) Ram Subhag Singh made a presentation before the Ministry of Tourism regarding the concept plan for the proposed Chintpurani project. “We have now been asked to prepare the DPR of the project within the next three months, so that beautification work and improving infrastructure and facilities for the pilgrims can be completed over the next two years,” said Ram Subhag.

He said token system for paying obeisance will be introduced and big holding space will be created to regulate flow of pilgrims. “The space around the Garbh Griha of the temple and parikrama will be made thrice than what it is now so that there is no overcrowding and flow of pilgrims can be regulated,” he added.

Under the Asian Development Bank (ADB) assisted project, a Tourist Reception Centre (TRC)-cum-parking project for Rs 52-crore was constructed last year at Chintpurni by Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation.

Amenities on anvil 

• Basic amenities will be developed adjoining the temple complex like improvement of streets, introduction of non-polluting public traffic system, disabled friendly infrastructure, etc.
• Provision will be made for big holding space to regulate flow of pilgrims. 
• The space around the Garbh Griha of the temple and parikrama will be made thrice than what it is now so that there is no overcrowding