Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday Janjehli in Mandi district, Chanshal in Shimla district and Bir Billing in Kangra district to develop under the new scheme ‘Nai Raahein Nai Manzilein’ from tourism point of view.

After a meeting with senior officials, he said the three sites had been selected for development from tourism point of view and modern amenities would soon come-up at these places.

“Rs 2.70 crore would be spent for constructing community hall at Markanda temple and Ambica Mata Temple whereas, solar lighting system would be installed at Janjehii, Shattadhar, Kuthah, Shikari Mata Temple,” he said.

Besides, temporary tents, promoting adventure tourism, constructing jungle tracking paths around Janjehli, Thunag, Shikari Devi, Puda Kedar, Tungasi Top, Thachi would also be constructed for promoting tourism activities in the area.

40 new trekking routes would also be developed in Janjehli circuit to facilitate tourists, he said, adding 12 forest rest houses or inspection huts would be upgraded for comfortable stay of the tourists. Thakur said Rs 16.70 crore would be spent on developing the area as attraction for tourists.

In addition, tourist culture centre has been awarded under Asian Development Bank funding for Rs 25.17 crore.

The CM said that Chanshal area in Shimla district would also be developed under the new scheme with the estimated cost of Rs 15.12 crore as the area has immense potential for adventure sports, skiing and camping.

Union Road and Surface Transport ministry has appointed M/s Mckinsey to prepare report for development of Chanshal area as Tourist Hub, he added.

Bir Billing in Kangra district would also be developed as tourist destination at a cost of Rs 14.62 crore.

Under ‘Swadesh Darshan’ Scheme of Union government, a paragliding institute was being set up at Bir Billing with an estimated cost of Rs 8.07 crore, he said.

The CM further said the government was committed to set up maximum number of ropeways in the state to facilitate the tourists and local people.

The government has decided to provide several concessions to those entrepreneurs who are interested to invest in ropeways projects. This includes waiving off annual license fee for the first seven years etc. He said that the MoU would be signed with Punjab government for construction of Sri Anandpur Sahib-Shri Naina Devi Ji Ropeway very soon.

The construction has been expedited on Dharamshala-Mcloedganj ropeway coming up at a cost of Rs 150 crore and the project would be completed by May next year.

He said that Palchan to Rohtang ropeway would be completed by the year 2022, whereas, Adi Himani to Chamunda and Bhunter to Bijli Mahadev ropeways would be taken soon.

Jai Ram said that several manmade reservoirs such as Chamera, Pong Dam, Govindsagar, Tatapani, Larji and Pandoh have immense potential for being developed as major tourists attractions for adventure and water sports.