SAYONI BHADURI – New Delhi
 |
| Sukhbir Singh Badal |
Realising the potential for tourism Sukhbir Singh Badal, deputy chief minister, Punjab is keen on attracting private investors for tourism projects. To lure them into the state he said, “We are keen on attracting investments for a hotel project at Ranjit Singh Fort.” This is not the only one, there are other forts the state plans to open for private investment, he added.
Of the future projects Badal informed of the entertainment city being developed near Ludhiana. Spread over 4400 acres it is intended to be an entertainment hub of north India. “We are inviting private investment for the whole project or in pieces as well,” he said. The construction is scheduled to begin by the end of this year and it is expected to be operational by four-five years. There are plans to develop Mohali and Amritsar as trade fair hubs with the development of convention centres and trade fair halls. An area of 2000 acres around Ranjit Sagar Dam is available for tourism projects. “We are giving out lands for hotels to be developed on the islands on the lake. We want this area to be a luxury tourism destination, but we are also clear that we want the development to be in a planned manner,” added Badal.
“I am convinced that Punjab will become the most sought after destination in the country. India begins at Punjab with opening to Pakistan and the middle east,” Badal said explaining that Punjab has a strong agricultural base and the highest consumer index. Punjab also has the highest infrastructure index. Punjab covers only two per cent of the land areas of the country but is responsible for supplying 60 per cent of the requirement for wheat and rice of the country. “It is air connected as well as it has the finest road transport. By the end of 2013 Punjab will also be a power surplus state,” he added. Mohali, Amritsar and Machhiwala are the state’s three international airports. There is a domestic airport coming up in Bhatinda, the Ludhiana and Pathankot airports are being expanded. The state has a high road density of 133 km per 100 sq km. “Of these plans 70 – 80 per cent have been implemented, the remaining will be implemented in the next three years,” he informed.
Badal plans to promote Punjab as a religious tourism destination with Amritsar as the hub. There is also scope for heritage and cultural tourism. With the 262 acres Medicity coming up in Mohali there is a huge potential for medical tourism. “We have made great inroads in promoting farm tourism, we already have 22 units operational,” he added. In 2010 Punjab saw 10.58 million domestic tourists in the state and in 2011 the number grew to 16.42 million. It is clear that the potential within India is more than inbound. “We are now looking at increasing our inbound numbers as well. We are also going to provide single window and we are in the process of creating attractive policy for hotels and with incentives this should be ready within a month,” he said.
