$28 million package for Sikkim tourism from ADB


GANGTOK, December 8: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) in its November 16th meeting has sanctioned a 89.5 million US dollar project for improving connectivity and infrastructure in the Indian subcontinent consisting areas of India, Bangladesh and Nepal to promote nature and culture based tourism.

Of the total cost of US$89.5 million, US$28 million will be spent in Sikkim, a IPR release informs.

During the discussions, the board members of ADB welcomed this sub- regional initiative, which is the first of its kind in the region, and underlined the importance of ensuring cross-border travel facilitation, co-ordination across countries, local community participation for inclusive growth and the need for ensuring preservation of cultural heritage as the tourist volumes pick up.

The amount sanctioned for Sikkim is to develop the hill State as Buddhist circuit and the creditline is specifically aimed at developing Buddhist sites in Sikkim. The State tourism department will act as the executing agency and project is likely to be completed by September 2014.

As reported by Sikkim Express on November 19, the concept clearance for the project ‘South Asia Tourism Infrastructure Development Project – India’ was given by ADB on September 30, 2008 after the fact finding mission took place from September 1, 2008 to September 6, 2008. The appraisal of the report was done in February-March earlier this year before the project was cleared by the board on November 16.

In the South Asia tourism infrastructure development project component of India, the project focuses on Sikkim where the report points out that Sikkim has a good road connection to Bagdogra, a regional hub and an airport site with potential links to North Bangladesh, East Nepal, Bhutan, and other North Eastern states.

Sikkim is part of the sub-regional Buddhist circuit and the Great Himalayan Trail, the ADB project states adding that the State has been experiencing high tourism growth rates at an average of 15% per annum at the aggregate, with international increase at 10% per year.

The ADB project for the Sikkim state of India involves creation of access and on site infrastructure and visitor facility improvements to well known Rumtek monastery, nature based tourism destination infrastructure and facilities including trail development, signages, sanitation improvements and other tourist facilities. Funds would be utilized for setting up a sub-regional training institute to be specialized in ecotourism and mountaineering in Sikkim and also for related capacity building activities for public sector institutions and communities in tourism and heritage management.

Of late Sikkim has been attracting international interest as a Buddhist circuit hub thanks to the initiatives taken by the State government to promote Sikkim as an all-round tourist destination. The State government has already set up the world highest statue of Guru Pamdasambhava at Samdruptse in Namchi, South Sikkim.

Presently, works are going on a warfooting to complete the Sakyamuni project which envisages installation of the statue of Lord Buddha at Manichokerling monastery in Rabong, South Sikkim. The statue in a sitting position would be of 148 feet from the base to the top including the throne and is expected to be the highest Buddha statue in the world.

The project is expected to complete by next year.

Already the project has garnered international attention when thirteen relics of Lord Buddha from 13 different countries were handed over to the Sakyamuni project on November 25 last year by the team of Thai monks led by the Venerable Jamnian Chonsakhorn Seelasettho, the chief of priests of the Thai monastery leading the delegation. The relics had been offered by Somdet Phra Nyanasaamvara, the 19th Supreme patriarch of the kingdom of Thailand.