Himachal CM opens amenity centre

Shimla, Sep 28 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Thursday inaugurated a wayside amenity centre and laid the foundation stone of a ski lift in the picturesque tourist resort of Narkanda in Shimla district.

Constructed at an outlay of Rs 1.90 crore in the complex of state-run Hatu Hotel, the centre houses a multipurpose hall with seating capacity of around 500, an official statement said.

It has five double-bed rooms and one multi-cuisine restaurant. There is also a provision of construction of eight new rooms and one dormitory for which funds are available.

Virbhadra Singh said the state has been promoting tourism, the mainstay of its economy, in a big way.

As Narkanda is a famous tourist destination, both in summers and in winters, there is a need for such a centre with all basic amenities, he said, adding that the place is also famous for the Hatu temple.

The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for the ski lift to be installed at Dhomri ski slopes at Narkanda, some 65 km from here, at the cost of Rs 1.59 crore.

This will give an added boost to adventure activities on the Narkanda ski slopes.

Private parties are conducting ski courses during winter and, with the facility, adventure sports will get a fillip, said the Chief Minister.

Managing Director of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corp Dinesh Malhotra said the corporation is running hotels and restaurants at various places besides providing quality transport facilities.

He said the department had laid special emphasis on development of activity-based tourism and opening of new sub-destinations in the countryside and unexplored areas.