Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said that the tourism sector was the mainstay of Himachal Pradesh’s economy and the state government was prioritising the early completion of ongoing projects to facilitate tourists visiting the state.

While reviewing projects of the Tourism Department, the Chief Minister said that the state government would invest Rs 2,415 crore in the tourism sector to create and strengthen tourism infrastructure in the state in the coming times.

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The Chief Minister said that the development of Shiv Dham in Mandi district would be undertaken with an outlay of Rs 150.27 crore, while the beautification of Baba Balak Nath Temple in Hamirpur district would be carried out at a cost of Rs 51.70 crore. Besides, the beautification of Nagrorta Bagwan and Palampur town in Kangra district would be undertaken with an investment of Rs 78.09 crore.

“Wellness centres will be developed at Nadaun in Hamirpur district, Nagrota Bagwan in Kangra district, and Kullu and Manali in Kullu district, with a total investment of Rs 280.39 crore. The state government will allocate Rs 8.64 crore for the conservation and restoration of Naggar Castle in Kullu district,” he said.

Sukhu said that the state government is also promoting adventure tourism in the state and a rafting complex will be constructed at Nadaun, while ice skating and roller skating rinks will be established in Manali, Dharamsala, and Shimla, with an estimated cost of Rs 163.50 crore. These initiatives will benefit tourists as well as people in the area.

The Chief Minister said that to improve air connectivity, the state government is also setting up heliports across the state. He also directed officials to expedite the work on these projects.

He also instructed the tourism department to obtain operational authorisation from the DGCA for hassle-free operations of helicopter services at existing heliports, including Sanjauli and Rampur in Shimla district, Kangani Dhar in Mandi district, and the Baddi heliport in Solan district.

He further said that the state government is also contemplating to set up drone stations in various parts of the state. Sukhu also instructed officials to ensure the operation of flights on the Dharamsala-Shimla route for seven days a week.

He said that the tourism and power generation sectors are the priority for the state government, which will leave no stone unturned in tapping their potential to yield maximum benefits. Due to the earnest efforts of the present state government, the influx of tourists has increased, contributing significantly to the state’s economy, he added.