Rs 200 crore plan to develop J&K tourism infra

22nd March 2011,by Priya: Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department has chalked out an ambitious Rs 200 crore plan to develop tourism infrastructure in the state.

Talking to iGovernment Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora said as part of the expansion plan Bhaderwah and Kishtwar will be developed to make it top on the tourism chart like Patnitop.

He said, in the year 2010, more than 87 lakh pilgrims visited Mata Vaishno Devi, Katra and this year, more than 95 lakh pilgrims are expected to visit the shrine.

The idea is to hold back the devotees for more than a day. Usually, the devotees stay in Jammu region till the darshan as Srinagar is their second top priority.

Elaborating his plan Jora said, “We are planning to develop other spots like Shiv Khori where approximately 30 lakh pilgrims visit annually. Pir Kho will be developed as an important pilgrim centre and the project would cost more than Rs 45 crore.

He said the government has decided to re-develop unexplored regions like Kishtwar, Rajouri-Poonch, Bani-Basohli et al. “We are planning to develop Kistwar as the starting point for trekking to Ladakh. The tourist reception centre (TRC) is already ready. We will be organising the Mughal rally Rajouri-Poonch area annually”.

For a more professional approach, the Tourism Department has hired the National Institute of Water Sports, Goa as a consultant for the development of the water sports centre in Bani Basohli. Soon, we will be floating tender for the same.

In Jammu too, the work on the multi-crore Gondola project in the Bagh-e-Bahu to Mubarak Mandi is on. Besides, we are also developing Akhnoor as the adventure sports centre.

The Ministry for Tourism is also planning to build an artificial lake around the Tawi river. For tourists, adventure sports centre and water sports centre will be added attractions apart from the religious ones, Jora added.