International Yoga Centre to come up in Mantalai: J-K minister

With an aim to give fillip to the tourism sector in Jammu, International Yoga Centre (IYC) will come up at Mantalai in Udhampur district as part of the 'integrated development of tourist facilities' project at Mantalai-Sudhmahadev-Patnitop circuit.
"Under the Prime Minister's Development Programme (PMDP) Rs 82.17 crore has been sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, for the IYC at Mantalai as a part of integrated development of tourist facilities at Mantalai- Sudhmahadev-Patnitop circuit," Minister of State for Tourism and Culture of Jammu and Kashmir Priya Sethi said.
Replying to a question of BJP MLC Ashok Khajuria in the Legislative Council here, she said the project includes construction of yoga centre with associated infrastructure, wellness, spa, ayurveda complex, separate area for traditional Indian spa therapies with library and archiving centre.

The project has been entrusted to National Projects Construction Corporation by the Ministry of Tourism along with 20 per cent mobilisation advance, Sethi said.
Mantalai, Sudhmahadev and Patnitop resorts are being developed as independent tourist destinations in Jammu region at a sanctioned cost of Rs 97.82, she said.
Development of tourist facilities by setting up infrastructure at Bhaderwah, Baghlihar Dam-Pul Doda, Ranjit Sagar Dam, Gulabgarh (Kishtwar) has been envisaged under the Anantnag-Pahalgam-Daksum-Ranjit Sagar Dam circuit at a cost of Rs 11.59 crore, the minister said.

Facilities to be built at Ranjit Sagar Dam and Baghlihar Dam shall comprise floating jetties, rescue boats, rain shelter sheds, water sports, others, Sethi said.

"Tourist facilities will be developed at Jhajjar Kotli, Panchari, Siard Baba Reasi, Sidhra Golf course, Tata Pani Rajouri, Qilla Dantitop, Loran/Jallian Pak/Noori Chamb (Poonch) Peer Ki Gali, around Mumbrak Mandi heritage complex as a part of Jammu-Rajouri-Shopian-Pulwama Circuit at a cost of Rs 49.93 crore.
"Facilities to be build for the circuit in Jammu region are suspension bridge at Jhajjar Kotli, eco log huts, tourist cafeterias, water sports and others," she said.
Sethi said, the Himalayan Circuit for Swadesh Darshan has been taken up for development of Jammu as an exclusive tourist destination at a sanctioned cost of Rs 27.22 crore.

"Development of border tourism at Suchetgarh include restoration of pre-independence railway platform in frontier theme cum museum," the minister said, adding other projects include construction of a musical water fountain and light and sound show at Bagh-e-Bahu.
About the Patnitop Gandola Project, the minister said surveys being conducted by a private firm are at the final stage and work is expected to start between February-March.
She said phase one of Jammu Ropeway project from Peerkho, near Mubarak Mandi, to Mahamaya Park, and phase two till Shahabad have been taken up under state plan at a cost of Rs 60 crore.

Infrastructure projects worth Rs 25.44 crore under the Prime Minister's development package have been sanctioned for the current fiscal at Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Rajouri, Poonch, Surinsar Mansar and Lakhanpur Sarthal Development Authorities.
Also, tourist destinations of Mantalai, Sudhmahadev and Patnitop are exclusively being developed as a tourist circuit at a cost of Rs 97.82 crore, she said.