The State’s Tourism and Culture minister Satpal Maharaj directed that the company executing the Surkanda ropeway project should use Indian made equipment instead of Chinese items in construction of the ropeway.
Considering this, the company has been given additional one year to complete the project. While chairing a review meeting with officials of tourism and culture departments, he also warned that action will be taken in case works are not completed on time.
He directed tourism department officials to provide proper toilets along Yatra routes along with signboards informing travelers about direction and mobile phone connectivity.Officials were directed to develop caravan park and all modern facilities for travelers. He said that considering Covid-19, it had been decided that travelers with a Covid negative report not older than 72 hours will be allowed to visit any place.
Further, proper sanitation and social distancing should also be ensured. To make the Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali tourism self employment scheme more attractive, it has been decided that state assistance of 50 per cent cost amounting to maximum Rs 15 lakh will be provided for purchase of 50 buses/electric buses in one financial year for operation on the state’s routes. Reviewing the Tehri lake development works, he noted that 98 per cent of the work had been completed. Further, a Rs 9770 lakh concept note on the Mahabharat circuit under the Swadesh Darshan scheme had also been sent to the Central government.
He said that about 90 per cent of the development works under Prasad scheme in Kedarnath had been completed. While development work is being undertaken in Badrinath, the DPR for such works in Gangotri and Yamunotri is being prepared.Tourism secretary Dilip Jawalkar, director Ashish Bhatgai, culture director Beena Bhatt and other officials concerned were also present in the meeting.