STATE TIMES NEWS
PATNITOP: To develop Patnitop as a major independent tourist destination, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Sunday took wide ranging decisions of infrastructural and recreational importance.
Mantalai, Sanasar, Baghliar, Dudu Basantgarh, Batote and Kud will be promoted as a Tourist Circuit with Patnitop as its hub, Sayeed said while chairing the Board meeting of Patnitop Development Authority.
The Chief Minister asked the Tourism Department to develop market strategy for better promotion of Patnitop Circuit.
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, Minister for Forest and Social Welfare Bali Bhagat, Minister of State for Finance and IT Pawan Kumar besides several senior officials of various departments also participated in the meeting.
Placing high priority on starting work on Patnitop Ropeway, Chief Minister granted one week to the concerned authorities to make a final presentation, in view of the changes in the alignment recommended by the Forest Advisory Committee.
He also issued instructions for removing impediments so that work on the project is expedited.
In order to attract captive segment of Vaishno Devi and Patnitop-bound tourists, the CM also approved the basic concept paper on developing tourism around Baghliar Dam, which primarily focuses on water-based leisure activities.
Under the project, villages of Dharmund and Baghliar will offer family packages in water-sports activities like floating cruises, viewpoint for waterfalls, camp life, tented and cottage accommodation. It will draw visitors towards a new concept of leisure tourism in Jammu.
Emphasising upon scientific disposal of waste, Mufti Sayeed directed Deputy Commissioner Udhampur to identify a land for dumping site.
In order to sustain footprint of tourists to Patnitop after the opening of Chenani-Nashri Tunnel for vehicular traffic, Mufti Sayeed directed the Tourism Department to conceive a plan which envisages setting up of add-on attractions like Multiplex, Amusement Park and a Toy Train. He said after the tunnel becomes operational, Public Works Department will be assigned full-time responsibility of maintaining the Chenani-Patnitop and Kalar-Gorikund roads.
In a separate meeting with stakeholders, the Chief Minister issued directions for setting up a helipad to operate chopper services for high-end tourists, opening of J&K Bank branch with ATM facility, dedicated pony track and construction of toilet points on user charges basis for the visitors. Director Tourism, Jammu, made a presentation before the Chief Minister about various steps taken to develop Mantalai as an International Yoga Centre over 125 acre of land under Prasad, a Ministry of Tourism scheme.
The Chief Minister fixed a deadline of one month for Director Tourism, Jammu, to prepare a detailed project report so that the work on the ‘Theme-based World Class Cultural Centre’ could be started at an earliest.
