Chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh reviewed the status of works being undertaken by the Tourism and Civil Aviation departments for tourism development in the state. Regarding the Char Dham Yatra circuit, the tourism secretary Dilip Jawalkar informed that 76 modern toilets are being built while regular feedback is being taken on the parking, tourist information centre and other works.
Singh said that in addition to attractive signboards, information in the electronic format should also be provided about ATMs, hotels, home-stays, parkings and other facilities for visitors at locations crossed by travellers or where the Char Dham Yatra starts.
Better work should be done for clean toilets, cafes and making tourist information centres more attractive. Jawalkar informed that 2006 home-stays have been registered with consistent efforts underway to increase this number. He further informed that the works related to development of the Char Dham Yatra are progressing at a brisk pace and will be completed before the start of the Yatra season.
Talks are underway with private companies for construction of five-star hotels. He also informed that the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has started the tender process for Himalaya Darshan scheme with the tenders slated to be opened on January 7. Regarding the tulip garden in Pithoragarh, Singh directed officials to ascertain which flowers grow in which season and start work on developing a tulip garden using the Holland technique as a pilot project.