Kangra, February 13 – The foundation stone for a Rs 6 crore modern bus stand was laid under the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) scheme at McLeodganj by the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mr Virbhadra Singh, on the last leg of his 23-day winter sojourn today.
While addressing a public meeting he said the BOT scheme was being adopted globally to ensure public participation and to provide best facilities to the people at nominal charges for the services available in the multipurpose modern complexes.
He said this bus stand would be of an international standard comprising a shopping complex, car parking and other facilities.
He said Rs 7 crore were being spent on various tourism projects in Kangra district during the current financial year, including Rs. 2.5 crore on tourism promotion activities at McLeodgang.
He said Rs 50 lakh each would be spent at Bahgsunag and on the beautification of Dal Lake besides Rs 75 lakh each in Triund and McLeodganj Bazar. He , however, said that the work on the Dharamsala and McLeodganj road would start in the beginning of the coming tourist season.
He said McLeodganj was a major attraction for tourists from all over the world, it being the seat of the Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama as people from all over the world visited here to pay obeisance to him. He said the upcoming modern bus stand would add to the existing infrastructure.
He asked the authorities to ensure time-bound completion of the projects. He later on inspected Dal Lake to take stock of the developmental works of beautifying it and developing it as a tourism spot.
Tourism and Transport Minister, Mr G.S.Bali, who welcomed the Chief Minister said bus stands at Banjar, Nagrota Bagwan, Baijnath and Jawali were being constructed and bus stands of Solan and Chintpurni would soon be dedicated to the people.
Mr Bali said a ropeway connecting Dharamsala, McLeodganj and Triund was being considered by the government in near future. Former Health Minister Chandresh Kumari sought further funds for tourism development in the area.
The Chief Minister said that his government was contemplating an amendment to the Municipal Act to fix accountability of those authorities which were responsible for maintaining the government land and allow unauthorised constructions on it and added that they would be prosecuted under criminal and civil provisions.
