tourism growth in south sikkim

Rs. 6664.67 lakhs pumped to inject tourism growth in South Sikkim Poor progress for Rs. 2,249 lakhs Samdrupste ropeway project

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, July 07: An astronomical amount of Rs. 6664.67 lakhs has been invested in 28 tourism related infrastructure projects in South Sikkim by the State tourism department since 2005, an official document points out reflecting the State government’s determination to decongest the cogging tourism traffic of East and North districts to other hitherto unexplored areas of the Himalayan State.

Out of these 28 projects, 18 projects are centrally sponsored schemes while the rest are funded either jointly by State and Centre or by State plan only.

Works for five projects are already completed. These are Indian Centre for Adventure & Eco-tourism constructed at the cost of Rs. 541.15 lakhs at Chemchey, footpath at Namthang, Guru Rinpoche Stupa at Rangrang, renovation of TIC at Jorethang and Melli.

However, the ambitious project constructing a ropeway from PWD bungalow to Samdruptse via rock garden in Namchi is not progressing smoothly. The project is worth Rs. 2,249 lakhs which is funded jointly by the Centre and State government. Works had commenced from November, 2006 and has a poor progress. The project was scheduled to be completed on June this year but has completed only 15 percent.

Tender notices for four projects have also been issued. These projects are construction of Yatri-Niwas at Assangthang in South Sikkim (Rs. 383.12 lakhs), construction of tourist infrastructure at Temi-Tarku (Rs. 303.06 lakhs), construction of tourist infrastructure at Damthang (Rs. 366.43 lakhs), construction of tourist infrastructure at Tiffindara and children park at Namchi (Rs. 295.53 lakhs).

Files have also been processed for four centrally sponsored schemes in the South district. The proposed projects are development of village tourism at Rong, Mainram Bhangjang Jaubari and tourist infrastructure at Jorethang.

Finishing works are also going on for construction of Phase II of Indian Centre for Adventure and Eco-Tourism at Chemchey (Rs. 369.27 lakhs) and Lepcha Heritage Centre at Yangyang.
Among the mega projects, an amount of Rs. 437.44 lakhs has been allocated for development of flower show pavilion at Namchi. A sum of Rs. 437.44 lakhs has also been allocated for construction of a car park at Samdruptse. Forest clearance is also under progress under for Rs. 206.63 lakhs worth tourism infrastructure at Tendong.

The other projects which are on the verge of completion though well past their schedule date of completion are a wayside amenity at Damthang, fencing for flower pavilion complex at Namchi, construction of a trekking trail from Chemchey to Jorpokari and a trekking trail from Dhappar to Bhalleydunga.

The completion of the above slew of tourism projects for South Sikkim is targeted to achieve a State round tourism image of Sikkim besides decongesting the tourism traffic in Sikkim which is predominantly revolves in East and North districts.