Punjab govt to implement Tourism Master Plan
17th Jan 2011The Punjab government has formulated a comprehensive Master Plan for the tourism sector. The Master Plan, which has been formulated with the active help of United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), will be implemented with the financial assistance of Rs 400 crore received from Asian Development Bank (ADB).
As part of the Master Plan, state tourism department has identified various circuits to be created around Heritage, Freedom Trail, Farm and Ecotourism in the state. The state tourism department has also identified various projects under Destination Development and Mega Destination Development schemes. While projects under the Destination Development scheme are spread over districts like Sangrur, Patiala, Faridkot, Kapurthala, and Fatehgarh Sahib. The heritage city of Amritsar has been identified for development under the Mega Destination project.
Speaking exclusively with TravelBiz Monitor, Hira Singh Gabria, Minister for Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Punjab government said that the state tourism department will be developing various sites associated with the history and culture of Punjab, as well as freedom movement of the country. “Projects worth Rs 100 crore are underway to develop memorials at Wadda Ghallooghara, Chotta Ghallooghara (sites of great holocaust) and Chappar Chiri (associated with the life of Baba Banda Singh Badal),” informed Gabria. These sites will be opened for public by October this year.
Similarly, the state tourism department is also in the process of developing birth places of great freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Kartar Singh Saraba, etc. The Minister informed that a project worth Rs 20 crore to develop a memorial on 16 acres of land at Khatkar Kalan in Nawanshahr District, the birth place of Bhagat Singh, is currently underway. Under the Freedom Trail, it is also planning to develop sites of Anglo-Sikh battles like Aliwal, Ferozeshah, Sobraon, etc.
Considering the popularity of Amritsar as a heritage and pilgrim destination, Punjab Tourism has started working on some mega projects to enhance tourism offerings of the city. A Heritage Village is being set up in the city at a cost of Rs ten crore on a 12 acre plot offered by Gurunanak University. As part of the conservation of heritage sites, six historic gates of Amritsar city will be renovated and conserved. Conservation and putting into use of Govindgarh Fort is also underway. Gabria said that the government is open to offering various incentives to investors who intend to invest in the mega tourism projects.
“The government has set the ball rolling for a mega convention centre at Ludhiana on NH-1. We want to set up a convention centre on the lines of Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC). 17 acres of land has been identified for the project, and Punjab Vikas Board has already begun the tender process,” stated Gabria.
