Centre rolls out 2 tourism infrastructure projects worth Rs 194 Cr for JK

NBCC, NPCC, J&K Govt ink pact for Rs 97 cr project  Gulmarg-Baramulla Kupwara-Leh, Mantalai-Sudhmahadev-Patnitop circuits

Jammu Tawi/ New Delhi, Feb 06 : Under the new initiatives in tourism sector, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, today rolled out two mega projects worth Rs 194.74 crore for development of tourism infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.

These are in addition to the projects worth Rs 2241 crore already approved and ongoing under Prime Minister's Development Programme (PMDP) and Prime Minister's Reconstruction Programme (PMRP) for the State.

Under the two new projects announced today, integrated development of tourism facilities on Gulmarg-Baramulla-Kupwara-Leh circuit shall be undertaken by the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) at a cost of Rs 96.92 crore, while another project for integrated development of tourism facilities on Mantalai-Sudhmahadev-Patnitop circuit shall be executed by National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC) at a cost of Rs 97.82 crore.

The major components sanctioned under these projects include Yoga centre, wellness SPA, log huts, heliports, open air theatres, walking trails, landscaping, solar lighting, solid waste management and public amenities etc.

State-owned construction firm NBCC today signed an agreement with the Jammu and Kashmir Government and Tourism Ministry for integrated development of tourist facilities in the State at a cost of Rs 97 crore.

“NBCC secured total works amounting Rs 1,117.34 crore in the month of September which included the ‘implementation of integrated development of tourist facilities at Gulmarg- Baramulla-Kupwara-Leh' valued at Rs 96.92 crore,” the company said in a filing to the BSE.

A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for this project has been signed today between Ministry of Tourism, NBCC and the State Government, it added. (AGENCIES)

Welcoming the signing of MoU for development of tourism facilities on Gulmarg-Baramulla-Kupwara-Leh and Mantalai-Sudhmahadev-Patnitop circuits, Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti said the Government is laying immense thrust on upgradation of tourism infrastructure in the State and in the coming months and years facilities for tourists would be upgraded exponentially in all the regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Chief Minister said that the action plan conceptualized for tourism promotion in the State would be accomplished by the present Government with all seriousness. “Jammu and Kashmir has immense potential for varied tourism activities and with adequate infrastructure in place, every part of the State can benefit from tourism promotion,” she said and added that the tourism sector also has huge employment generation potential which would go a long way in addressing the problem of unemployment in the State.

Mehbooba said given the resources available for infrastructure development in tourism sector, the State is going to witness huge augmentation of tourism-related facilities in the coming years. She said the Government of India has already announced Rs 2100 crore package for infrastructure development in tourism sector in the State under PMDP which is to be spent over the next five years.

Similarly, she said projects worth Rs 141 crore are already under implementation under PMRP. (KNS)