Himachal urges Centre to make declare Shimla a 'heritage city'

Himachal Pradesh government has urged theCentre to declare Shimla as heritage city and include it under the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) project.
The state has pleaded that Shimla, which was erstwhile summer capital of British India was 200-year-old and has several historical landmarks, Vice Chairman of Himachal Tourism Development Board, Vijay Singh Mankotia said, adding that he had also written a letter to Union Urban Development minister Venkaih Naidu in this regard.
The flagship HRIDAY project aimed at holistic development of heritage towns including economic growth and heritage conservation besides beautification and environment protection and inclusion of Shimla under the project would prove boon for the state, he said.

Referring to some new proposals on tourism development, Mankotia said thatShimla winter carnival 2015 would be held on the lines of Manali between December 25 to 31 which will have a host of activities, including Shimla queen contest and film stars would also be invited.
He mooted a proposal for starting a heli taxi service between Chandigarh and different locations in Himachal Pradesh as some private companies were keen to take-up the venture.
The state has 62 helipads including few in the tribal belt which can be used for bringing tourists.

Initially two helicopters will be allowed to operate.
Mankotia said he would soon take-up issue of privatisation of all loss making HPTDC units /hotels to promoters on the PPP mode while profit making hotels be modernised and upgraded for better professional services .

"If the private chains can run the properties on PPP mode with existing staff observed at the units, the government should take a plunge.
I will discuss and put up the proposal to CM, he added.
Mankotia expressed his concern over poor road conditions in the state and said that it was hampering tourism development and said that in case urgent steps are not taken to improve the road conditions ,tourism would be hit badly.