Govt panel recommends fresh revision of Patnitop Master Plan

Areas for varied activities to be specifically earmarked
*RFP for newly created assets at Mantalai being drafted
Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Nov 14: A committee of Government officers has recommended fresh revision of Patnitop Master Plan so as to holistically plan residential, commercial, tourism related activities etc for the next 20-30 years especially in the light of continuous rise in the tourist footfall at this picturesque destination. Moreover, Request For Proposal (RFP) is being drafted for outsourcing of world-class assets created at Mantalai under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP).

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Vide Government Order No.194-JK(TSM) dated November 3, 2022, the Secretary to the Government, Tourism Department constituted a committee of officers to examine the issues related to the Master Plan of Patnitop Development Authority.
The committee headed by Director Tourism Jammu and comprising of Special Secretary (N) Tourism Department, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Patnitop Development Authority, Senior Representative of Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) Ahmedabad and Senior Representative of Town Planning Organization Jammu was directed to suggest way forward and prepare action plan on the issues and submit the same to the Tourism Department.
After prolonged delay, the committee has finally submitted its report to the Tourism Department recommending fresh revision of Patnitop Master Plan so as to holistically plan all sorts of residential as well as commercial activities for the next 20-30 years, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
“The fresh revision of Master Plan has been recommended on the ground that during the pendency of finalization of earlier Master Plan, the Government, by way of formal orders, brought more areas under the jurisdiction of Patnitop Development Authority and these areas cannot be kept out of the purview of Master Plan for prolonged period as the same will hamper the developmental activities”, sources informed.
They further informed that during the revision of Master Plan enough thrust will be laid on proper earmarking of areas for residential purposes, commercial activities, tourism related activities and creation of wayside amenities. “Since tourist footfall is increasing every year and will go up considerably in the coming years these aspects need proper attention”, sources added.
“Presently, there are negligible wayside amenities from Chenani up to Patnitop and during the revision of Master Plan modern and adequate number of wayside amenities for high-end and middle-end tourists will be planned and created”, sources further said, adding the Patnitop Development Authority has already started installation of water ATMs at different locations for the convenience of the tourists.
In response to a question, sources said, “only Tourism Department will decide as to who will conduct the Master Plan revision exercise and the time-frame for the same”, adding “as enough time has already been lost in bringing newly added area under the purview of Master Plan it is hoped that revision exercise will be completed in shortest possible time”.
Meanwhile, an exercise has been started to draft Request For Proposal (RFP) for outsourcing of world-class assets created at Mantalai under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP). The RFP is a document that organizations use to invite vendors to submit detailed proposals for services or products.
“The RFP is being drafted under the supervision of a high-powered committee headed by Administrative Secretary of Industries and Commerce Department”, sources said, adding “hopefully the draft will be ready shortly and thereafter further steps will be taken towards outsourcing of the assets”.
Created by National Building Construction Corporation through Patel Engineering, the assets were taken out by a committee of Government officers in the month of November last year.
The assets include Yoga Centre with associated infrastructure, equipment and counseling rooms; Wellness Spa and Ayurveda Complex with separate area for traditional Indian spa therapies with library and archiving centre; Tourist Facilitation Centre with exhibition space; eco-log huts with solariums on south west side integrated into the cottage design; eco-park with herbal garden and poly houses; meditation enclave in apple orchard; heliport with ambulance shed; open air amphitheatre with green rooms; rainwater harvesting and associated water bodies; sewage treatment plant and water purification plant etc.
The Tourist Facilitation Centre consists of counseling rooms, money exchange point, conference hall and museum while as Yoga Centre is having exhibition space, meditation hall, meditation pods, dining centre and solid waste management plant and it has been conceptualized to practice and propagate Yoga in the lap of nature as these days many people are running for solace due to their changed/ engaged fatigued lifestyle.