Srinagar
Advisor to Governor K.K Sharma on Saturday visited the border and discussed the development of border tourism at Suchetgarh on the pattern of Wagah Border.
He chaired a meeting of officers of Border Security Force (BSF) and senior officers of the line departments and sought details of the tourism and other development works being carried out for the benefit of the people living along IB.
During the meeting, the Advisor was informed that several projects like construction of multi-purpose hall with souvenir shops and cafeteria, security cabins, toilets and changing rooms, besides rainwater harvesting, filtration and overhead water reservoir have been completed.
It was informed that the work on the restoration of pre-partition railway platform – frontier express cum museum and gallantry gallery, tourist vehicle parking space, internal pathways and landscaping and plantation with solar irrigation system projects are under progress.
The officers informed the Advisor that solid waste management and eco-awareness information signage projects will be started soon.
The other works proposed by the tourism department to promote border tourism are the provision of the fish pond by creating Water-body with stone pitching, plantation of shade trees for tourists, provision of lighting in plants/trees for glow during the night and adding to the beauty of the place.
It was informed that the meeting point on IB will be improved by granite laying and other allied works while statues of Jambu Lochan, Maharaja Gulab Singh etc will be developed to highlight Dogra legacy.
Musical fountain with sound & Light Show, illumination of the corridor beyond the gate, covering of entire premises by Chain-link fencing, upgrading of main gates to convert in Gate Plaza, construction of souvenir shops on both sides of corridor beyond gate and up to meeting point and existing viewpoint are other works proposed at the site.
The Advisor asked the officers of the tourism department to come up with a complete DPR to promote border tourism on the pattern of Wagah Border. He also asked the officers to complete the pending projects well in time.
