To promote unexplored and lesser known tourist places of the state, Himachal government will be spending Rs 480 crore on development of infrastructure.

The development work will be carried out under the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Tranche-II project worth Rs 1892.04 crore.

This was stated by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while presiding over the review meeting of Tourism and Civil Aviation Department on Tuesday.

The CM said that in the first phase, Rs 800 crore have been proposed to be spent under this project on various activities for development of tourism. Rs 480 crore would be spent on providing basic amenities, strengthening infrastructure and capacity building in lesser-known tourist destinations, he said.

Convention centres, tourist culture centres, food parks and parking slots would be development in these places, he added.

Thakur said that about Rs 180 crore have been proposed to be spent on beautification of towns like Nahan, Solan, Palampur, Dalhousie, Una, Keylong, Tabo and Kaza.

Under this project, about Rs 45 crore would be spent on conservation and maintenance of heritage buildings and Rs 50 crore on capacity building, he added.

He said that under the new scheme ‘Nai Raahein, Nai Manjilen’, the state government has selected Janjehli in Mandi district, Chanshal in Shimla district, Bir Billing in Kangra district and Larji to be developed from tourism point of view.

He said that food park and parking facilities would be developed on both sides of the Rohtang tunnel to facilitate the tourists as well as local people.

The state government is committed to establish maximum number of ropeways in the state for the convenience of tourists.

He said that MoU has been signed between Himachal government and government of Punjab for construction of Sri Anandpur Sahib-Shri Naina Devi Ji ropeway recently which would connect two religious places.

“Construction has been expedited on Dharamshala-Mcloedganj ropeway coming up at a cost of Rs 150 crore and it would be completed by May next year. Palchan to Rohtang ropeway would be completed by the year 2022, whereas, Adi Himani to Chamunda and Bhunter to Bijli Mahadev ropeways would be taken soon,” he said.

Thakur said, “The state has several man-made reservoirs such as Chamera, Pong Dam, Govindsagar, Tatapani, Larji and Pandoh. All these reservoirs have immense potential for being developed as major tourists attractions for adventure and water sports. These lakes would be developed for water sports, shikara, boating, house boat, sea plane and other recreational activities.”

He said that the state government would take up the matter for allowing water sports and recreational activities in Pandoh dam with Bhakra Beas Management Board so that it could be developed from tourism point of view.

Larji dam would also be developed as tourist attraction by creating necessary infrastructure to facilitate the tourists, he added.