Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 11: Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla today said that Government has initiated various steps to create adequate infrastructure at all places of religious importance for the convenience of the visiting devotees.
This was stated by the Minister while interacting with the devotees after inspecting the Navratras arrangements made by the district administration at Bawe-Wali Mata temple at Bahu Fort, here today.
Mr. Bhalla asked the accompanied officers to provide adequate facilities to devotees during the Navratras days like safe drinking water, toilet blocks, electricity, parking, sarai, security, and free langer so that they do not face any inconvenience. He called upon the shopkeepers not to sell stale food to devotees and beautify the area by displaying goods in a attractive manner with attractive sunshades for protection. He asked the Jammu Municipal Corporation officers to personally monitor the sale of eatable items besides sanitation facilities in and around the temple.
The Minister further said that the Government is also embarking on a plan to develop the historical places in twin capital cities of the State and its peripheral towns, adding that the development of famous Shri Bawe Wali Mata shrine is one of the major projects in this direction. He hoped that these would become a source of attraction for the devotees and help in diverting the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji pilgrims to other parts of State.
Mr. Bhalla said, “to meet the challenges in tourism, our emphasis is on diversification and providing requisite infrastructure facilities to the pilgrims and tourists in the State”. He said Tourist Reception Centres, wayside facilities and huts have been developed along the way to almost all the tourist destinations.
Giving the details of some initiatives taken by the Government for development and upgrading of tourism infrastructure in Jammu Division, the Minister said that the restoration and conservation work of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex is under progress on war-footing.
Mr. Bhalla said that Government has sanctioned Rs. 3.5 crore for developing the river Tawi embankment area near Peer Kho Temple by constructing park, Tourist Reception Centre, artificial lake and viewpoints, adding that Rs. 90 lakh have been kept for construction of view points and road widening from Bahu Fort to Harki Poudi Temple.
Earlier, at Trikuta Nagar W. No. 54, the Minister also dedicated Sulbah Toilet Complex to Trikuta Nagar people, completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 10 lakh.
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