PrashantNews
The centre on Wednesday announced a mega ₹3295 crore tourism project for 40 different places in 23 states of the country which includes a rafting base station and establishing new facilities in the spiritual city of Rishikesh in Uttarakhand.
Under the scheme, a modern rafting base station will be developed and constructed in Rishikesh with a cost of Rs 100 crore, an official statement said. The project has been approved under the special assistance to states/UTs for capital investments (SASCI).
The project was approved to strengthen new facilities for promoting rafting activities in Rishikesh and its nearby places. Under the scheme, a systematic system for booking rafting adventures is likely to be established at the rafting starting points such as Brahmapuri, Shivpuri, Marine Drive and Kaudiyala and ending points such as Neem Beach, Laxman Jhula and Janki Jhula.
Lack of facilities such as toilets and proper changing rooms, lack of safety provisions and traffic congestion on the Rishikesh-Tapovan-Shivpuri corridor are other issues which may be covered under the project.
The Rafting Base Station Project aims to address the infrastructure challenges and gaps in rafting tourism in Rishikesh. The project aims to centralise rafting operations and provide standardised booking system and enhanced facilities to attract high-paying tourists and boost economic development.
The project envisages development of a centralised rafting base station equipped with essential amenities such as toilets, proper changing rooms and roadside food shops to enhance tourist experience. This includes the construction of alternative routes to reduce congestion in the Tapovan area and the implementation of an IT-based monitoring system to ensure safety and efficiency.
Apart from this, a waste management system will also be established to promote environmental sustainability and maintain the eco-system of the area. About 1500 people are also expected to get jobs through this project. The state government will provide land for the scheme and it will also be implemented by the state government.
The Union Ministry of Tourism will monitor it. Sixty six percent of the amount for the scheme has been released to the states. The central government has set a deadline of two years for the states to complete the developmental work under the SASCI scheme.