To come up in PPP mode with 15 years agreement
*Will generate employment for local people
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 22: With a view to promote tourism and boost economic activities in the border districts, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) today approved setting up of 75 ‘BRO Cafes’ including 26 in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
“The MoD has approved setting up of wayside amenities at 75 locations in 12 States/Union Territories on different sections of roads with Border Roads Organisation (BRO). These are intended to provide basic amenities & comfort to the tourists and lead to boosting of economic activities in border areas, besides generating employment for the local people,” an official statement issued by the MoD said.
It added that these wayside amenities will be branded as ‘BRO Cafes’.
The Scheme, as per the MoD statement, provides for development and operation of wayside amenities in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode with agencies, on license basis, which will design, build and operate the facilities as per guidelines of BRO.
“Amenities like parking for two and four wheelers, food plaza/restaurant, separate rest room for men, women and differently abled, first aid facilities/MI rooms etc are proposed to be provided. The licensees will be selected through a competitive process,” it said.
Twelve locations which have been finalized in Jammu and Kashmir for setting up of the BRO Cafes are TeePee, Tragbal, Hussaingaon, Kilometer 95, Kilometer 117.90, Kilometer 58, Galhar, Siot, Bathuni, Budhal, Kapotha and Surankote.
Fourteen places where similar facilities will be set up in the Union Territory of Ladakh area Matiyan, Kargil, Mulbek, Khaltse, Leh, Hunder, Choglamsar, Rumtse, Debring, Pang, Sarchu and Agham.
Fazilka is the only location in neighbouring Punjab which has been granted `BRO Cafe’. However, Himachal Pradesh, another neighbouring State of Jammu and Kashmir, has secured six such Cafes at Kilometers 8.5, .5, 11.8, Sissu, Manali, Kharo and Sumdo.
Rest of the facilities have gone to Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
Term of the agreement will be for 15 years which may be further extended for a period of up to five years, the Ministry of Defence said.
The BRO has its reach in the remotest border areas and besides addressing strategic needs, it has been instrumental in socio-economic upliftment of the Northern and Eastern borders, it added.
“This has results in increased tourist influx in these scenic locations, which were hitherto inaccessible. However, with a view to provide conducive and comfortable transit of tourists on these roads located at harsh climatic and geographical conditions, the need to establish multi-utility wayside amenities along the major tourist circuits in these regions, was recognized,” the Ministry of Defence statement said.
It added that since the inaccessibility and remoteness of these roads preclude widespread commercial deployments, the BRO, by virtue of its presence, took it upon itself to open such facilities at remote places.
According to sources, the Government is of the view that establishment of 75 `BRO Cafes’ in remote areas of the border districts will promote border tourism as more people will visit the spots leading to boosting of economic activities.
This will also generate employment, they said.
Sources expressed confidence that this new experiment will succeed which will lead to opening of more such facilities in other areas of the border States including Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
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