Jharkhand To Invest Rs 20 Crore For Tourism Infrastructure Development

Joy Roy Choudhury - Ranchi

Jharkhand, one of the latest States to enter the Indian Union has accorded top-most priority to tourism and charted a roadmap to increase the flow of inbound domestic tourists into the State substantially in the next couple of years.

In order to achieve this target, the Department of Tourism, Government of Jharkhand has focused on setting up proper infrastructure facilities in the state. The department is urging private investors to set up budget hotels, wayside facilites and tourist lodges in these places.

"We are flooded with offers from private promoters for setting up business hotels around Ranchi, the state capital but we want them to set up budget hotels and other amenities in the important tourist spots of the State," S K Choudhary, Commissioner & Secretary, Department of Tourism, Government of Jharkhand told Express Travel & Tourism.

Presently, the state is involved in creating 'tourism products' for the inbound domestic tourists. The department has taken up several central government sponsored projects to develop and beautify the important tourist spots of the state, which it plans to market as tourism products. It has identified places like Betla -the world famous tiger reserve, Netarhat -near Ranchi, several waterfalls in and around Ranchi, the holy Jain pilgrim spot of Parasnath and the famous Shiva Temple near Deoghar for this purpose. Though some tourist lodges and small hotels have come up in these places, the government wants large corporate houses to help the state government in setting up tourist facilities. Beside, providing fiscal incentive to these projects, the department promises to extend all possible help and cooperation to the private promoters. To lure private investments in the tourism sector into Jharkhand, the state government have taken up several infrastructure development projects in and around some of the important tourist spots of the state at a cost of Rs. 20 crore. "Our aim is to provide the best possible infrastructure facilities to the investors", he added. "These projects will be completed in the next couple of years and would help in bringing more tourists into the State."

For instance in Parasnath, which of much significance to the Jains, the Government has invested Rs. 4.5 crore to beautify and develop the place. It has also received Rs. 1.5 crore assistance from the Centre to develop this place. Now it wants private companies to set up accommodation and other tourist amenities in this place. A ropeway will be soon put up at Trikut near Deoghar. It is famous for its temples situated on the hills. Devotees coming here during Shivaratri can visit the temples on the hill top by this ropeway.