Though constructed in 2008, Paryatan Swagat Kendra (Tourist Reception Centre) would be used for the first time during the upcoming Ardh Kumbh Mela slated to begin in January next. The State tourism department has not found any use for the centre for so many years. It was handed over to National Disaster Relief Force in 2011. Now, with Ardh Kumbh Mela drawing near, the idea of using it has dawned on the department officials. New staff members have been sought for by the department. This aside, sitting up suddenly from a prolonged spell of slumber, they have decided to establish ten temporary tourist information centres in the city hub area to cater to the teeming tourists who are likely to throng Haridwar during the mega religious event .
The tourist reception centre is meant to facilitate the tourists on the booking of government and private guest houses and hotels, to provide information on tourism and transport of different states aside from those of Uttarakhand and also to provide basic amenities like drinking water and toilets for the tourists. This aside, it would facilitate reservation of tickets for both trains and buses through a separate counter.
However, a tourism officer, Vikas Chauhan said such a permanent information centre has never proved successful in any part of the State. Speaking to The Pioneer, he said, “To come up with Paryatan Swagat Kendras equipped with all such facilities is not easy. Nowhere in the state such a centre is now running. In Haridwar, the centre constructed near CCR Tower at Har Ki Pauri in 2008 would now be developed. We have asked for placement of temporary staff which would be filled through bidding. Apart from this, ten temporary tourist information centres would be developed for Ardh Kumbh Mela at CCR Tower, Pantdweep, Neeldhara, Dhobhi Ghat, railway station, bus stand, Motichoor, Bairagi camp and Shankaracharya Chownk.”
Notably , the centre constructed with a cost of Rs 50 lakhs was used by National Disaster Relief Force personnel till it was handed over to tourism department in November. It is hoped that Ardh Kumbh Mela would help the centre to cater to things it is meant for.