PNS | DEHRADUN
A rafting base station will be developed in Rishikesh with the budget of Rs 100 crore which will provide employment to about 1,500 people. The Union government has approved a sum of Rs 3,295 crores for the development of 40 different tourist places in 23 states of the country under the scheme called Special Assistance to States/UTs for Capital Investment (SASCI). This also includes Rs 100 crore for Rishikesh in Uttarakhand.
The existing infrastructure promoting rafting activities in Rishikesh is inadequate due to which, tourists and local people have to face many challenges. A systematic system for booking rafting adventures is yet to be established at the rafting starting points such as Brahmapuri, Shivpuri, Marine Drive and Kaudiyala and ending points such as Neem Beach, Laxman Jhula and Janki Jhula. Lack of facilities such as toilets and proper changing rooms, lack of safety provisions and traffic congestion on the Rishikesh-Tapovan-Shivpuri corridor are other issues.
Expressing happiness the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the rafting base station project aims to address the infrastructure challenges and gaps in rafting tourism in Rishikesh. The project aims to centralise rafting operations at ISBT in Rishikesh and provide standardised booking systems and enhanced facilities to attract high-paying tourists and boost economic development. The project envisages development of a centralised rafting base station equipped with essential amenities such as toilets, proper changing rooms and roadside food shops to enhance tourist experience. This includes the construction of alternative routes to reduce congestion in the Tapovan area and the implementation of an ITC-based monitoring system to ensure safety and efficiency. Apart from this, a waste management system will also be established to promote environmental sustainability and maintain the ecosystem of the area. About 1,500 people are also expected to get jobs through this project. The State government will provide land for the scheme and the Union Ministry of Tourism will monitor the work. The centre has released 66 per cent of the amount for the scheme to the states under this scheme. The central government has set a deadline of two years for the states to complete the development work of the tourist destinations being developed under SASCI scheme.
Dhami also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving money to the State. He said, “PM Modi holds a special place in his heart for Uttarakhand. This is why, since the Modi government came into power at the centre, Uttarakhand has received support at every level. Developments like the Char Dham Yatra route, the Karnaprayag railway line, and the improvement of our major pilgrimage sites are examples of this. Now, with the approval of a Rs 100-crore development project for Rishikesh, PM Modi has given yet another gift to the people of Uttarakhand. For this, the people of the State will always remain grateful to him.”
