GANGTOK, June 7 � Sikkim Tourism Department has received a tourism infrastructure development grant of $20 million from the Asian Development bank (ADB) for development of tourism in the State.
BS Gautam, Additional Project Director of Tourism Department said that the Government of India chose Sikkim since the State has already undertaken a lot of tourism-related development work within the State. He further said that the Tourism department had projected a total 28 million dollars as its developmental requirement but the ADB has provided 20 million dollars and the balance amount will be borne by the State Government.
Survey to identify the development areas would be undertaken after some days and after the survey, the department will issue a tender notice for the purpose. Gautam further added that five agencies from Sikkim, Delhi and Mumbai have already filed their applications with the department expressing their desire to participate in the tender process, but the department is yet to give confirmation to the agencies, it was informed.
The department has plans to construct a training institute under the department at Chemchey to impart basic tourism training. It also plans to develop the Rumtek circuit where the department will construct stalls, restaurants, roads and foot paths, and overall tourism infrastructure in the State, informed Gautam.
Work is scheduled to start from September this year , this being the first time Sikkim Tourism is getting a tourism development fund from the ADB. It may be added here that the ADB has provided funds similar in nature to Bangladesh, Nepal and other States in India.
It was further informed that the department has already formed a committee in this regard and the committee will look after the development work. There would be two types of committees � State level and District level with government officers as committee members.
