Tourism is the key sector for revenue generation and the State Government is enhancing the tourism infrastructure in the State so as to attract more tourists, said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. He set a deadline of December 15, 2023, for completing Detailed Project Reports for heliports in Rakkar, Palampur, and Sultanpur. Additionally, a modern heliport near Shimla is in the plans, he revealed.
Additionally, the state government is also mulling to promote tea tourism.
He also directed to accord sanctions to the projects related to green industry on priority and reviewed the progress in this direction and took feedback on the green initiatives, as announced in his maiden budget speech. He said that as of now, 90 applications have been received for e-taxi. Charging infrastructure was being developed in a phased manner and necessary instructions were issued to expedite the construction of proposed e-charging stations, according to the minister.
With a tripartite MoU signed among the UT Administration, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh, and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, the project aims to bolster local tourism in Hanle and economy through science and technology initiatives. Hanle, known for India’s first dark sky reserve, offers excellent stargazing conditions due to its secluded location, high altitude and minimal light pollution.
In a meeting with Administrative Secretaries, Sukhu stressed on incorporating technology for transparent and efficient government operations. He said that INR 100 crore for Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojna and INR 20 crore for road repairs post a recent disaster have been allocated by the government. Under the INR 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-up Yojna, local youth will receive subsidies, fostering self-reliance and self-employment. An integrated agriculture and fisheries project is set to launch under Startup Yojna, providing substantial self-employment opportunities in the state, stated Sukhu.
