Land identified, Tourism Deptt-JDA to be equity holders
*Work to begin under PPP mode from next year
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU Aug 4: Finally, Expression of Interest (EoI) is being designed for the establishment of Mega Water Theme Park in Jammu as was announced in the Budget for Financial Year 2023-24 and the execution of project under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode will begin from next year as encumbrance free land has been identified near Tawi Golf Course.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Tourism Department has initiated an exercise of designing Expression of Interest through a consultant after holding deliberations with the Jammu Development Authority, which will be equity holder in the project with the Tourism Department.
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“The consultant has been asked to complete the exercise as early as possible and clearly define the terms and conditions. Thereafter the same will be placed before the higher authorities for approval. Once approved the Expression of Interest will be floated to invite bids for execution of the project on Public Private Partnership mode”, they said while disclosing that Jammu Development Authority will be equity partner with the Tourism Department as the land belongs to the Authority.
When contacted, Director Tourism Jammu Vivekananda Rai confirmed that designing of Expression of Interest has begun and will be completed as expeditiously as possible. “Suitable and encumbrance free land has already been identified near Tawi Golf Course. Not much clearances are involved in the project”, he added.
Responding to a question, he said, “we are quite hopeful of completion of all the formalities before the end of current financial year so that from March 2025 onwards execution of project begins in order to translate Budget announcement as well as commitment of Lieutenant Governor into reality”.
According to the Director Tourism, the Water Theme Park would act as a major tourist attraction in Jammu round the year offering entertainment and recreational activities to every age group. Moreover, the Water Theme Park along the banks of River Tawi near Sidhra would make a circuit together with Bahu Fort, Maha Maya Temple, Artificial Lake and Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex.
The Water Theme Park will have attractions like provision for water rides, wave pool, artificial water landscape, kids pool, swimming area, water museum, central water body besides other amenities like jogging track, sky dining, water volleyball, sunbathing, lazy river, indoor water sports, cabana rentals, live entertainment, special/night event zones, landscape zone and kiosks for public, official sources said.
Moreover, Tourism Department will explore other eco-tourism activities as it is in close proximity with the forest area. The eco-friendly hutments and other amenities can also be explored to add to the ambience of the park, they further said, adding “even adjacent forest land could be leased additionally so as to make the project viable for adding new attractions and for creating gardens, jogging tracks, botanical garden, tree houses etc as permissible under Master Plan”.
It is worthwhile to mention here that Water Theme Park has been planned to enhance tourism potential of Jammu, tap the potential of pilgrimage tourism and fulfill the desire of having a thrilling recreational /adventure destination in the outskirts of City of Temples.
As Jammu is the route for millions of pilgrim tourists going to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine besides other local tourist destinations, tourism infrastructure like Artificial Lake and Water Theme Park would go a long way in attracting tourists and extending their stay which will ultimately lead to revenue and employment generation for the locals.
Official sources stressed that Tourism Department in consultation with J&K Cable Car Corporation should also create recreational facilities near Peer Kho Station of ropeway so that Mahamaya-Peer Kho section is also utilized by visitors, who at present prefer only Bahu-Mahamaya Section.
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