The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has taken up 321 NHs projects in a length of about 8,544 km and amounting to INR 1,49,758 crore for improvement of important tourist / religious connectivity.
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari said that the Ministry is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs). The development of NHs is carried out after network planning on PM Gati Shakti principle with the whole of the government approach.
While planning the development, important economic, tourist and religious connections are invariably taken up with special focus on Way Side Amenities (WSAs), adequate signages and road side / median beautifications and more. Thus, there is no requirement of dedicated funding / scheme for development of tourist / religious destinations, the minister stated during his Lok Sabha session.
During his address, Prime Minister Modi underscored the city’s burgeoning appeal as a hub of faith and tourism, citing the escalating number of tourists visiting Kashi Vishwanath Dham, exceeding the count of 13 crore devotees. Emphasising domestic tourism, he reiterated his call to explore 15 domestic destinations before contemplating international travel, expressing contentment in witnessing the populace embracing domestic travel.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has undertaken several projects across various states and union territories aimed at enhancing connectivity to important tourist and religious destinations. In Andaman & Nicobar Islands, 2 projects worth 540 cr are underway, while Andhra Pradesh has 5 projects covering INR 2,588 crore. Arunachal Pradesh sees 7 projects totaling INR 7,648 crore rupees, while Assam has 9 projects for INR 1,861 crore. Ladakh has 8 projects aiming for INR 2,368 crore. Other states include Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand and more.
[ad_2]
Source link
In a significant stride towards enhancing urban services and fortifying tourism infrastructure, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has given the nod to a USD 100 million loan dedicated to the northeastern state of Tripura.
Expressing commitment to supporting Tripura’s governmental priorities, ADB Principal Urban Development Specialist Tomoo Ueda stated, “ADB is committed to supporting the Tripura government’s priorities of improving urban services and tourism infrastructure to help boost economic development.”
Ueda added, “This project will support the state as a gateway to the northeast region by developing tourist destinations along the national highways and by improving urban governance and financial sustainability.”
According to the ADB report, the comprehensive project encompasses the upgrade of urban water supply systems through the installation of 42 kilometres of new transmission and distribution pipes, the establishment of four new water treatment plants, and the enhancement of 55 kilometres of stormwater drains.
Additionally, 21 kilometres of urban roads will be improved with a focus on features catering to the needs of the elderly, women, children, and disabled individuals.
To bolster the delivery of urban services, the initiative aims to build the capacity of twelve urban local bodies in areas such as planning, infrastructure operations and maintenance, financial management, gender equality and social inclusion, and project management.
Furthermore, the state government will receive support in updating building regulations, incorporating spatial planning and green building principles for enhanced climate and disaster resilience.
The project’s tourism-centric facet aims to elevate key destinations like the Chaturdash Devata Temple, Kasaba Kalibari, and Neermahal Palace.
As per the government data, tourism plays a vital role in West Bengal’s economy, contributing around 13 per cent of the state’s GDP. One of the key benefits of this move is the boost it will provide to investment in the tourism sector. Hotels, in particular, will benefit from substantial savings on electricity bills, water supply costs and license fees and taxes.
This involves improving amenities, rooms, and landscaping, and ensuring they are more visitor- and gender-friendly. Additionally, plans include the establishment of a digital museum and a new adventure park.In tandem, a 10-year tourism business plan is set to be developed, guiding marketing, and promotion efforts, and attracting private sector involvement. Simultaneously, Tripura’s tourism policy will undergo an update to align with evolving needs.
As an institution deeply committed to fostering prosperity, inclusivity, resilience, and sustainability across Asia and the Pacific, ADB’s involvement in Tripura underscores its dedication to eradicating extreme poverty.
Established in 1966, ADB boasts ownership by 68 members. It obtains its funding by issuing bonds on the world’s capital markets, contributions from member countries, retained earnings from lending operations, and the repayment of loans.
[ad_2]
Source link
In the economic value of the Indian alcoholic beverage industry Maharashtra has been ranked the fifth state after Tamil Nadu, UP, Telangana and K’taka with Nashik emerging as the ‘Wine Capital of India’.
Nashik received more than 3.5 lakh visitors every year as wine tourism here has benefitted nearby villages creating new opportunities to improve state GDP by nearly 20%, said the report by the International Spirits & Wines Association of India (ISWAI), the apex body of the premium AlcoBev sector.
Maharashtra has the largest installed capacity in the country for the production of Alcoholic spirits from molasses and grain. An astounding 1.8 lakh foreign tourists visit the state, with domestic tourists exceeding 4.3 crore, report added. Maharashtra has the added advantage of having around 90% of liquor manufacturers in the country establishing their manufacturing units within the state itself.
The International Spirits & Wines Association of India (ISWAI), the apex body of the premium AlcoBev sector, on Tuesday presented its report titled “Economic Value of the Indian Alcoholic Beverage Industry” to DCM Ajit Pawar, Agriculture minister Dhananjay Munde, Excise Commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi and joint commissioner Yatin Sawant. The comprehensive report is a first-of-its-kind that delves into critical aspects and contributions of the AlcoBev sector to the State of Maharashtra and the nation overall.
In 2022, Jammu and Kashmir received a record 1.88 crore tourists. The current year is set to surpass this achievement, with foreign and domestic arrivals exceeding expectations. Sharing this and more, Secretary of Tourism & Culture, J&K Govt, Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, talks to ETTravelWorld about the role of sustainable tourism in U/T, plans to develop 300 new destinations and active involvement of youth.
The report provides important insights into the alcoholic beverage industry in terms of its economic contribution, consumption trends, and contribution to allied sectors such as agriculture, tourism, etc. Presenting the report, Nita Kapoor, CEO, ISWAI, said, “The Alcobev Industry is the economic engine of the country and the state, and it is, thus, essential that relevant stakeholders should recognise the economic contribution of our sector.””The number of retail outlets in Maharashtra is 10,849. The scope of the alcohol industry in terms of employment is remarkable. Currently, India’s alcoholic beverage retail shop density per lakh of drinking population is five. The total number of retail shops is estimated at around 88,234, including IMFL, country liquor and beer. E-commerce is an opportunity for all spirits that the state could consider with stringent KYC norms that can be implemented with a technology partner,” the report stated.
The overall nationwide alcoholic beverage tax collection for the financial year 2021 was as high as INR 2.4 lakh crore, the report pointed out. Interesting to note that the wine production in India is concentrated in the state of Maharashtra (90 per cent). The strong link between the alcoholic beverage and tourism industries is creating new growth opportunities, the report stated further. In Nashik the wine tourism has benefited nearby villages such as Gangapur, Gangaware, Girnare and Savergoan by creating new opportunities from tourism like hotel properties, the food industry, local farmers and retail merchants, it added.
Suresh Menon, Secretary-General, ISWAI, said, “Maharashtra has the advantage of being the gateway of India for business travel and tourism. An astounding 1.8 lakh foreign tourists visit the state, with domestic tourists exceeding 4.3 crore. Studies indicate that alcohol tourism has the potential to increase local GDPs by as much as 20%”.
India is the fifth largest contributor to global market revenues and is expected to retain its position in the near to medium term. The Indian alcoholic beverage industry’s market size was estimated at USD 52.4 billion (INR 3.9 lakh crore) for CY2021, which is approximately 2% of India’s nominal GDP for FY21 and more than 1.6% of nominal GDP for FY22. Some sources estimate the Indian alcoholic beverage industry’s potential size at USD 64 billion in the next five years.
[ad_2]
Source link