Project completed, final touches being given to all components
Facilities to attract large number of domestic, foreign tourists
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate Rs 87 crore worth International Yoga Centre at Mantalai in Udhampur district in the month of April as work on all the components of the project has been completed and at present final touches are being given.
The project was sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Government of India in order to carry forward the Himalayan Yoga and spiritual knowledge besides attracting domestic and foreign tourists and work on all its components has been completed by National Building Construction Corporation through Patel Engineering, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
“At present finishing touches are being given and by the last week of next month project will be ready in all respects for its inauguration”, they said, adding “it is likely that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate this project to the public along with some other vital infrastructure in other parts of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir”.
The project comprises Tourist Facilitation Centre, Yoga and Meditation Complex, Wellness Spa and Ayurveda Complex, eco-huts with solariums, poly house and drip irrigation system, open area amphitheatre and helipad 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 many people are running for solace due to their changed/engaged fatigued lifestyle, sources said.
The Wellness Spa and Ayurveda Complex with separate area for traditional Indian Spa Therapies consists of six floors and other allied infrastructure. “The Wellness and Spa industries are recording a growing trend with each passing year and domestic and international tourists are expected to take advantage of this centre throughout the year”, sources said.
There are 14 number of one bedroom eco-log huts, six number of two bedroom huts along with eco parks and herbal garden and these huts will be outsourced for residential purpose of the visiting tourists.
The poly houses at Mantalai are having naturally ventilated climate control for growing of vegetables, floriculture and fruit crop for market and outsourcing of the same will generate huge revenue every year. Moreover, open air amphitheatre with green rooms and tensile roofing, walking and jogging track, mood lighting, children activity zone and fountains have been created as part of the project. Even helipad with hanger has been constructed.
For the mobility of the tourists within the complex spread over 450 kanals of land battery carts will be operated with informational, directional and ecological Dos and Don’ts signage at different places. “Many reputed Yoga Centres in the country have already evinced interest in making best use of this infrastructure as Government has made up its mind to outsource the entire infrastructure”, sources said.
About the existing infrastructure built by Swami Dhirendra Brahmchari, who developed the place as a Spiritual, Yoga and Meditation Centre in the relaxed environment and named it as Aparna Ashram, sources said, “since huge cost is involved in the repair of this infrastructure the Government has decided to outsource it on as and where basis”. This infrastructure comprises of Aparna Ashram having 18 rooms, Gole Ghar and incomplete five star hotel building having 26 rooms.
When contacted, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Patnitop Development Authority Sher Singh confirmed that work on the project has been completed and only finishing touches are being given. “It is due to constant monitoring by the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Secretary that project has finally been completed and is going to attract large number of domestic and international tourists after its inauguration”, he said.
“Even Union Minister of State in PMO and Member Parliament from the area Dr Jitendra Singh enquired about the progress on the project after regular intervals”, he added.
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