Chandigarh, May 12
The Union Government has prioritised number of Tourism projects to be taken up during 2010-11, including creation of infrastructure, facilities for Crafts Mela at Kalagram at Rs 4.78 crore, development of new gardens as tourist spots at Rs 5 crore, setting up multimedia laser show at Rs 3.50 crore, musical fountain at shopping centre, Sector 17, setting up of touch screen information at Rs1 crore, kiosks at tourist information centres and celebration of Tourism fairs and festivals at Rs 25 lakh, said Ram Niwas, Home Secretary-cum-Secretary UT, at a review meeting on tourism projects.
Highest-ever financial assistance of Rs 23 crore, from Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, for development of various tourism infrastructural facilities in Chandigarh has been granted for development and upgradation of Sukhna Lake for Rs 4.99 crore , development and upgradation of Rose Garden at Rs 2.69 crore, development and upgradation of Botanical Garden and Patiali Ki Rao at Rs 3.90 crore, development of Garden of Palms and Tourist at Rs 3.11 crore, development of Valley of Animals, Sector 49, at Rs 1.40 crore, development of Garden of Conifers, Sector 52, at Rs 1.76 crore and Illumination of monuments, buildings for promotion of night tourism in Chandigarh at Rs 4.98 crore.
Secretary Tourism further said, Ministry of Tourism had sanctioned Rs 9.64 crore for expansion of Institute of Hotel Management under the OBC Scheme, Rs 3.75 crore for Executive Development Centre and Rs 38 lakh for skill up gradation for manpower to CITCO during last year.
Besides, hospitality education is being broadbased in various institutes of Chandigarh as per the guidelines of Ministry of Tourism.
Tourism department has also taken up various initiatives to develop other infrastructure in Chandigarh.
Institutes like Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Sector 28, Chandigarh, Government Central Crafts Institute (W), Sector 11, Chandigarh, and Home Science College, Sector 10, Chandigarh, have been asked to prepare projects for financial assistance for new courses in hospitality such as House Keeping, Food Projection, F&B Service, etc.