Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar today said the State has huge potential in pilgrimage tourism and the Government is taking steps for the overall development of the sector.Replying to supplementaries of legislators, the Minister said State Government is facilitating pilgrimage tourism as a means to develop tourism sector as a whole.Earlier, replying to a main question of Surinder Kumar Choudhary, the Minister of State for Tourism, Ms. Priya Sethi said the Rajouri Development Authority has started up-gradation of infrastructure at many religious places to attract pilgrims. She said that construction of TRC and Baitual zaireen at Shahdra Sharief and Tracks at various religious sites are the developmental activities to promote pilgrimage tourism in Rajouri.
The Minister said the Tourism Department has proposed a comprehensive plan for the development of prominent religious places in Rajouri District under Prime Ministers Special Package.The Minister said there is no proposal for creation of religious corridors in Rajouri district to connect Mangala Mata, Vir Bhadeshwar, Baba Veerman Shah, Baba Shah, Lakhpeer Mata Mangal Dai, Parat Mandir, Minka Mahadev, Katau Mandir with the religious tourist circuit in Sunderbani and Nowshara area.Ms. Priya Sethi said in Rajouri District the work on the Master Plan has been started which will include every aspect related to promotion of tourism sector.In Poonch District, Tourism Arrival Centres have been constructed by Tourism Development Authority, Poonch at Takia Sharied Bandichachian and Ziarat Sain Ellahi Bakash Battalkote Loran, she saidThe Minister said Tourist Arrival Centres at Shri Buddha Amarnath Mandi/Nangali Sahib/Zaiarat Sain Miran Sahib are being developed by Tourism Development Authority Poonch.Vibodh Gupta and S. Charanjeet Singh raised supplementaries to the main question.