The State Planning Board has approved a proposal of the Tourism Department to develop tourism destinations across the State at a cost of Rs. 100 crore during this fiscal year.
The department had sent the proposal seeking approval from the board to develop various tourism destinations under the Special Development Plan. Having got the approval, the department has prepared a master plan. Development works planned include improving roads in the tourism divisions of Bangalore, Mysore, Belgaum and Gulbarga.
Yatri Nivas
The master plan envisages a comprehensive development of the tourism destinations which includes construction of Yatri Nivas at 23 places, restoration of historical forts and monuments, development of saint-poet Kanakadasa’s birthplace, installation of information kiosks, construction of changing rooms for women at bathing ghats, installation of railings wherever needed and construction of canteens. Under Secretary (Tourism) H. Ramachandra, in his order on August 31, 2012, said the department would provide basic amenities and improve link roads to tourism destinations at a cost of Rs. 90 crore. The balance of the funds will be spent on publicity material and such other purposes.
The department has allocated 40 per cent of the sanctioned amount to Gulbarga division for the development of tourism destinations there. While Bangalore division will get 15 per cent of the sanctioned amount, Mysore and Belgaum divisions will get 25 and 20 per cent, respectively.
The Gulbarga division has rich tourism potential which remains to be tapped. Hence, the department has allocated maximum grants to it, a top tourism official told The Hindu .
According to the master plan, besides completing ongoing projects, the department will take up 60 infrastructure projects and 23 new road construction works at tourism destinations.
Under the Special Development Plan, the department will repair the KSTDC canteen at Bannerghatta National Park and also construct a dormitory at Sri Guru Gunda Brahmeshwara Swamy temple in Sira taluk of Tumkur district.
Information kiosks
Information kiosks will be set up at Belur, Halebid, Shravanabelagola and Badami. Ten changing rooms for women will come up near the bathing ghat on the banks of the Kapila in Nanjangud.
Development projects will be taken up at Bada village in Haveri district, the birthplace of Kanakadasa, at a cost of Rs. 70 lakh. The peacock sanctuary at Bankapur in Haveri district will also be developed. The historical Koppal fort will get a facelift at a cost of Rs. 1 crore. The department has released over Rs. 2.5 crore to develop a few tourism destinations in Mandya district, including the Tipu Sultan fort at Srirangapatna.
