Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 30: In its endeavors to give new dimensions to tourism industry of the State, the Government is mulling to launch a prestigious cable car project for Shiv Khori Shrine in Reasi district.
The Jammu and Kashmir State Cable Car Corporation (JKSCCC) has formulated a detailed project proposal in consultation with the Rail India Technical Economic Services (RITES), a consultant agency of Union Ministry for Railway.
Minister for Tourism, Ghulam Ahmed Mir today visited the sites at Kotla and Darshani Deodi being proposed for the cable car project.
Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Director Tourism, Jammu, Soujanya Sharma, Managing Director JKSCCC, Tufail Mattoo, General Manager JKSCCC, Jamali, ADC, Rajinder Singh, Additional CEO, Shiv Khouri Shrine Board, Dr Manmeet, AEE, Tourism, Arvind Gupta and other senior officers accompanied the Minister.
The MD of the Corporation informed the Minister that the Corporation has conducted a broad survey of both the sites and submitted the report to RITES seeking guidance for implementation of the project. He also told that this ambitious project is expected to be started by the next year.
The Minister assured that the Kotla village, blessed with abundant natural and scenic splendor and surrounded by beautiful mountains, would be brought into the tourism map. “This will immensely help boost tourism thus raise economy and employment in the area which has about 50 adjoining villages”‘ he added.
Later, the Minister also inspected the construction work of new bus stand at Ransoo, the base camp of Shiv Khori Shrine. He asked the officers to formulate a comprehensive project proposal for utilization of the area available in the premises of the bus stand for construction of commercial shops. He said that this would greatly help generate local employment besides raising revenue.
Enroute, the Minister inspected the construction work on public convenient point which is being established at a cost of Rs.7.80 crore with facilities like restaurant, park and allied services during his visit to Domail in Pouni block of the district.
The Minister also inspected the construction work on new TRC at Katra which is being established with an estimated cost of Rs.4.20 crore under Centrally Sponsored Programme. He was informed that the project is expected to be completed by 2014.
The Minister directed the Director Tourism to formulate a proposal for face-lifting of the old TRC Katra.
The Minister was informed that 19.42 lakh pilgrims visited the Shiv Khori Shrine last year while 12.60 lakh pilgrims have visited the holy cave till August this year which is a significant increase to the corresponding period last year.
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