Minister of State for Tourism, Education, Horticulture, Floriculture and Parks Priya Sethi today flagged off bikers rally from the historic Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex which after visiting Basoli, Bani, Lowand and Sarthal will culminate at Jammu on 19th March, 2017.The rally is a joint initiative of Department of Tourism, Lakhanpur-Sarthal Development Authority, Kathua administration and Biker Brotherhood Motor Cycle Club, Jammu.Chief Executive Officer, Lakhanpur-Sarthal Development Authority Sudershan Kumar, Joint Director Tourism, Jammu Vishesh Mahajan, SDPO North, Vivek Shekhar Sharma, Assistant Director Tourism (Adventure) Umesh Shan, Director, Biker Brotherhood Motor Cycle Club Rahul Gupta, besides senior offices of concerned departments and people in large number were present on the occasion.
While addressing the gathering, Priya Sethi lauded the efforts of the Tourism Department and other concerned agencies for organizing such mega event and informed that the rally aims to showcase our old rich cultural heritage and it also enhances our tourism portfolio manifold.She said the rally would definitely help in identifying varied unseen areas of Basohli, Bani, Lowand and Sarthal which have huge tourism potential besides promoting the concept of adventurous tourism in unexplored destinations. “We have earmarked very ambitious and future-looking projects which will enable us to establish J&K as the most ‘Tourist Friendly State in the Country’, she added.She said that such occasions are very important in raising awareness among people especially youth to fight against the menace of drug abuse and other social evils besides highlighting the welfare schemes launched by the Central Government like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan etc.Joint Director Tourism informed that around 37 bikers from Jammu, Ahmadabad, Delhi, Punjab, Mumbai and other States are participating in the rally including 3 female bikers.He said the rally will be a highlight of the promotion of the Heritage Arc of Jammu which is an exceptional and culturally distinctive region of the State.