According to an IANS report, Uttarakhand is promoting the temple towns of Haridwar and Rishikesh as the biggest Spiritual Tourism destinations in the world on the strength of the Kumbh Mela. The state government has sanctioned infrastructure and town planning projects worth Rs 545.97 crore for the Mela, which begins today. Ramesh Pokhriyal, Chief Minister, Uttarakhand said, “We are making it one of the biggest cultural showcases to tell the world that Haridwar is the seat of Spiritual Tourism in India. Our focus this year is to put permanent tourism infrastructure in place. Save-the-Ganga mission is the civic and religious foundation of the 2010 Kumbh Mela.”
Pokhriyal added, “The exercise to roll out permanent infrastructure is a collective effort between the Centre and private parties so that the town can host mega religious festivals. We have managed to put 80 per cent of the infrastructure in place. Only 20 per cent is yet to be completed. The new infrastructure includes a modern car park, foot bridges and a network of arterial roads connecting Har-ki-Pauri to the neighbouring shrines and residential areas.” He informed that the temple town has new hotels and newly-laid out tarmac roads to accommodate nearly 70 million pilgrims who are expected to flock to the city in the next three months till April 14, 2010 when the Mela ends.
According to Pokhriyal, “This is a good time to get additional tourism infrastructure in place to boost the local economy. The state government has sanctioned projects worth Rs 545.97 crore for creating new infrastructure. Of this amount, we have already allotted Rs 408.50 crore.”
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