Gujarat to deploy police for tourists

Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL) plans to bring every tourist destination in the state under security scanner.

The corporation is working out deployment of tourist police through the home department based on the models of states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Himachal Pradesh.

"We have submitted the project report to the home department. Almost all the police stations have already been notified by the department on deployment of tourist police," said PD Vaghela, managing director of TCGL.

The tourism ministry had been advising all state governments to deploy tourist police for the safety and security of foreign and domestic tourists.

The home department would either be asking the nearest police stations to provide safety and security at tourist destinations or set up separate tourist police stations.

So far, there have been sporadic attempts by one or two collectorates, including Godhra, in deploying tourist police but "no formal structure has been laid up".

According to Vaghela, the police will be trained in handling tourist enquiries and awareness of tourist destinations.

"Effort will be made to change the attitude of police towards a tourist and make them more friendly and approachable," he said.

TCGL had recently incorporated a 50-50 joint venture with IL&FS "" Gujarat Tourism Project Development Company Ltd.

The JV company will identify infrastructure development of tourist destinations, purchase land and bid out jobs to interested parties, Vaghela added.