CM approves electric joy ride train for Patnitop, cable car project for Mantalai

*Go ahead to water sports activities at Baglihar reservoir

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed chairing a meeting of Patnitop Development Authority on Sunday.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed chairing a meeting of Patnitop Development Authority on Sunday.

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 14: In order to enhance visibility of Patnitop as a major independent tourist destination of Jammu region and attract more domestic as well as foreign tourists, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today took wide ranging decisions and issued directions for development of Patnitop Tourist Circuit comprising Mantalai, Sanasar, Baglihar, Batote, Dudu-Basantgarh and Kud in a time-bound manner.
The decisions include start of water sports activities in the reservoir of Baglihar Hydroelectric Project at Chanderkote, electric train for joy ride and Health and Wellness Tourism Projects at Patnitop, cable car project for Mantalai and amusement park for Sanasar.
These decisions of immense importance for tourism promotion point of view were taken by the Chief Minister while chairing the Board of Directors meeting of Patnitop Development Authority at the picturesque tourist resort.  The meeting was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, Minister for Forest & Social Welfare, Bali Bhagat, Minister of State for Finance and IT, Pawan Kumar, Legislators, Dina Nath, Ranbir Singh Pathania, Neelam Kumar Langeh and Firdous Tak and senior officers of various departments and Deputy Commissioners of Udhampur and Ramban.
In the meeting, Chief Minister granted one week time to the concerned authorities for making a final presentation on Patnitop ropeway whose fate is hanging in balance during the past more than one decade. “The final presentation is imperative keeping in view the changes in the alignment recommended by the Forest Advisory Committee”, Mufti Sayeed told the Patnitop Development Authority, adding “all the impediments in the start of work on this ambitious project shall be removed at the earliest so that work on the project is started and completed expeditiously”.
It is pertinent to mention here that EXCELSIOR had yesterday exclusively reported that Chief Minister was going to announce slew of important measures to sustain foot-prints of tourists at Patnitop and adjoining areas after opening of Chenani-Nashri tunnel.
Chief Minister approved the proposal of the Patnitop Development Authority for tracked electric train for joy ride and directed the Tourism Department to start exercise in this regard by making preparation of concept paper.
During the presentation on this aspect, the Board of Directors was informed that tracked electric train is feasible from Children Park at Patnitop to Batote, which will not only be a successful facility for the tourists but will also generate income for PDA, official sources said, adding “the PDA has proposed six bogies and two electric engines to accommodate almost 33 children and 15 adult at a particular time”.
In order to attract large segment of Shri Mata Vaishodevi pilgrims and prolong the stay of tourists at Patnitop, the Board of Directors approved the basic concept paper on development of tourism around Baglihar dam, which primarily focuses on water-based leisure activities. Earlier, a presentation was made on start of water sports activities in the reservoir of Baglihar hydroelectric project by the Jai Prakash Industries.
Under the project, villages of Dharmund and Baglihar will offer family packages in water-sports activities like floating cruises, viewpoint for waterfalls, camp life, tented and cottage accommodation, which will draw visitors towards a new concept of leisure tourism in Jammu.
For the development of Sanasar, which is also a popular weekend destination for the tourists, the Chief Minister gave nod to the proposal for development of amusement park to be set-up on Sanasar-Patnitop Road so that both areas are developed as family destinations.
After receiving briefing about steps being taken to develop Mantalai as an International Yoga Centre, Chief Minister gave directions for carrying out a survey for laying of ropeway between Patnitop and Mantalai. “This would further help in tourism promotion both in Mantalai and Patnitop as eco-huts, convention centre, amphitheatre and tourist walkways would also be developed for promotion of Mantalai”, Mufti Sayeed said. He also fixed a deadline of one month for Director Tourism, Jammu, to prepare a detailed project report so that the work on the ‘Theme-based World Class Cultural Centre’ could be started at an earliest.
It is pertinent to mention here that Expression of Interest has already been issued by the Director Tourism Jammu for development of Mantalai as International Yoga Centre and consultancy has also been finalized. Mantalai is ideally suited to attract high-end tourists as an airstrip for fixed-wing planes already exists there.
Chief Minister also issued directions for setting up a helipad at Patnitop to operate chopper services for high-end tourists. Stating that exercise in this regard has already been carried out, sources said that a committee comprising Wing Commander, Headquarters AOC J&K, Senior Superintendent of Police and Chief Executive Officer of Patnitop Development Authority had identified a suitable site for construction of heliport but the same was deferred by the Forest Advisory Committee in its 59th meeting on the ground that there was legal binding of the Supreme Court of India.
“Now it is proposed that instead of constructing heliport, a helipad can be developed on the identified land for ferrying the tourists and for use during any emergeny in Udhampur, Ramban and Doda districts”, sources said.
The Health and Wellness Tourism Project at Patnitop also received the approval of the Board of Directors. It is proposed that Patnitop Development Authority would install prefabricated glass structures with floor of natural grass and the experts in the field could be engaged for such service in favour of visiting tourists.
Emphasizing upon scientific disposal of waste, Mufti Sayeed directed Deputy Commissioner Udhampur to identify a land for dumping site. On the issue of setting up of STP, the Chief Minister was informed that the work on the project will commence shortly as the land for the purpose has been acquired and tender allotted.
Observing that underground cabling of power lines and enhancing capacity of Shivgarh Water Reservoir are of paramount importance to promote Patnitop as weekend and weekdays’ destination, Mufti Sayeed directed Commissioner Secretary Tourism to formulate a plan for ensuring uninterrupted power supply at the resort.
He said after the Chenani-Nashri tunnel becomes operational, Public Works Department will be assigned full-time responsibility of maintaining the Chenani-Patnitop road as also Kalar-Gorikund Road. In order to ensure quality of environment, he called for expediting notification of Zonal Master Plans so that planned development of Patnitop is carried out. He also called for simplification of the procedure for providing hassle-free building permissions to locals living in the notified area of the Developmental Authority.
The Chief Minister also issued directions for replacement of traditional streetlights with solar lights to improve the aesthetic ambience of the Patnitop resort. Mufti Sayeed also passed directions for upgrading facilities in budgeted accommodations at Kud and Sanasar so that the intake capacity of Patnitop Circuit is enhanced.
Earlier, Chief Minister launched the official website of PDA and released Rs 20 lakh for developing wayside viewpoints at Dudu-Basantgarh for tourists.

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