Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said that special emphasis was being laid on developing infrastructure to promote tourism in the state and unexplored tourist destinations were being connected with roads to facilitate the tourists.

He performed the bhoomi pujan of Mcleodganj-Bhagsunag-Tau Chaola road and Hiru Dasalan-Tamru Chaola road to be constructed at a cost of Rs 713 lakh and Rs 612 lakh respectively at Indrunag Tau Chaola near Dharamshala.

Sukhu said that nature has blessed Himachal with panoramic beauty which attracts tourists across the world. He said that the government was taking effective steps to develop Kangra district as a tourism capital, adding that many tourism projects were afoot to fulfill the resolve of making Kangra district a tourism capital of the State. He said that work on an international level convention center in Dharamshala, Zoological Park in Bankhandi, Old Age Wellness Resort and High-End Fountain in Nagrota Bagwan, proposed tourism village, ice skating and roller skating rink in Narghota, golf course in Paragpur, Dhauladhar Biodiversity Park in Dharamshala, wedding Resort in Mainjha of Palampur and construction of Heliport would be started soon.

The CM said that the State Government has identified 11 eco-tourism sites in forest areas of the State including Swar, Saurabh Van Vihar, Neugal Park, Bir-Billing in Palampur forest division of Kangra district. He said that each eco-tourism park would be developed in one hectare area and a reserve price has been fixed for these sites to be developed and operated through outsourcing. He said that eco tourism would encourage tourism activities in the State immensely which will go a long way in creating employment and self employment opportunities for the local people thereby boosting the economy of the area.