CHANDIGARH: Keen to promote border tourism in a big way, Jammu and Kashmir Tourism plans to develop the Suchetgarh international border near Jammu on the pattern of the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab.
Infrastructure will be developed in the area to shore up tourist arrivals.
“We are now going to promote border tourism in a big way. Suchetgarh is a place in Jammu district. We are planning to develop that spot like the Attari-Wagah border. Though it is not a trade route, we are now going to create infrastructure on that (Attari-Wagah) pattern,” Director Tourism, Jammu, R K Varma said here today.
Varma, accompanied by Deputy Director, Tourism, Jammu, S K Attri, was speaking on the sidelines of J-K Tourism Department’s roadshow here yesterday to showcase different tourist destinations in the state.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, during a visit to Suchetgarh last year, had pitched for developing the international border on the pattern of the Attari-Wagah border.
Suchetgarh is about 30 km from Jammu.
Varma said there are big plans to give tourism sector in the state a “big push” this year.
He said that various projects are in the pipeline or at the stage of execution to create and upgrade tourist infrastructure in the state.
“There is a backwater lake in Basholi (45 km from Pathankot in Punjab), sub-divisional headquarter in one of the sub-divisions of district Kathua. A lake has been formed because of the Ranjit Sagar Dam there. It is a huge, majestic lake.
“There is huge water sports activity potential in that lake. The government is going to explore the potential of that lake through PPP mode. A Detailed Project Report has been prepared. We are going to develop and harness entire potential of that lake and that will become a gateway of tourism to J&K,” he said.
Varma said an amusement park will also be set up in Jammu near the 18-hole Sidhra Golf Course, which was inaugurated in October last year.(agencies)
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