With barely a fortnight left for the announcement of the Railway budget, people here are not only waiting for the arrival of trains in the hill regions like other Himalayan states but are also looking forward to better rail connectivity with other states.

The visits of railway minister Mr Lalu Prasad to Uttarakhand many a time in the past and his promise of better rail links have raised the hope of the people of this hill state.

A few months ago, the minister admitted the need to have the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag and Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail links as part of the national plan. It is believed that there could be some announcement in this regard in the rail budget. Past surveys have recommended the rail link on the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag route. The first survey was done in 1919 on the initiatives of the then deputy commissioner of Garhwal JM Clay. The next survey was done in 1996, by the then minister of state for Railways Mr Satpal Maharaj. But the rail link on the hills here remained a dream.

Experts find no impediments to the construction of rail routes here. Dr PC Nawani, director of the Geological Survey of India, who is a consultant to the Rail line Plan in Jammu and Kashmir, says the hills of Uttarakhand are fit for the rail links. “The situation here is more favourable compared to Jammu and Kashmir as the rocks here are harder,” Dr Nawani said.

“It is perhaps due to the lack of political will that the hills of Uttarakhand are still without trains,” Mr Naveen Gupta, a trader said. He reasoned: “If there can be trains in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Darjeeling, why not in Uttarakhand?”

The people also long for the Doon-Saharanpur rail line, a double rail line from Doon-Luxar and its electrification, a fast train to Mumbai and direct trains to other parts of the country, particularly Bangalore and Goa.

With the growing number of tourists, it is essential to have better rail connectivity, Mr LM Sharma, an insurance company manager said. According to him, the Doon-Saharanpur line would help frequent travellers as it would shorten by two hours the distance from Dehradun to Delhi. It would be about 30-35 km, railway officials said.

News Source: http://www.thestatesman.net

Leisure Hotels Ltd plans to open a new resort and leisure property, Astoria, in Naukuchital, Nainital. It is expected to be operational by May 2008.

The hotel will cater to Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) clientele, in the region of Uttarakhand. Ajay Kareer, General Manager, Operations, Leisure Hotels, says, “At present we are looking at promoting our leisure properties in Uttarakhand, but there is potential for such projects in western and central India, which we are keen to explore.”

Astoria, the 40 room leisure property will provide four star services along with conference facilities, a multi cuisine restaurant and a bar. The projected average room rate (ARR) will be about Rs 2800. Astoria expects guests to stay for two to three nights on an average. The hotel also has plans to team up with a local tour operator to promote adventure tourism in the region.

The management has tied up with Resort Condominiums International (RCI) for the resort’s marketing activities. The property will be marketed through the timeshare module. A part of its inventory will be shared with Mahindra Holidays.

Leisure Hotels currently operates 17 properties under different brands. Their portfolio consists of resorts, luxury camps and heritage properties across the state of Uttarakhand.

Inputs by Anita Jain

News Source: http://www.travelbizmonitor.com

The Uttarakhand Government has completed the upgradation work at the Jolly Grant Airport and Pant Nagar Airport. The airports are scheduled to start operations in February, 2008. Besides, three airstrips at Naini Saini in Pithorgarh, Gochar in Chamoli and Chinyalisaur in Uttarkashi are also ready for operations.

Talking to TravelBiz Monitor, Prakash Pant, Minister of Tourism, Uttarakhand, said, “The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has said that it will start operations at these airports by the last week of February.” The state has already written to all the airlines, asking them to start operations to Uttarakhand. Till date, it has got responses from Indian Airlines, Deccan and Kingfisher Airlines.

While Deccan will initially start with a frequency of two flights a week, the other two airlines are yet to decide on their flight frequency. Prior to the commencement of the upgradation work, Indian Airlines, Jagson Airlines and Air Deccan operated from the airports. “After the upgradation, the airports now have the capacity to handle the landing of Airbus 320 and Boeing 787. The Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun essentially caters to the Gharwal region in the state, while the Pant Nagar Airport caters to the Kumano region,” offered Pant.

Commenting on the need to extend helicopter operations in the state, Pant said, “We want to extend the helicopter facility to the Char Dhams of Uttarakhand, i.e. Gangotri, Yamnotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. We would also like to extend it to Hemkunth Sahib, the renowned religious pilgrimage site of the Sikhs. The government will provide free water, security, power, fire services, etc, to the helipads.”

At present, talks are going on with Jagson Airlines, Prabhatam Aviation and Pawan Hans Helicopter Services, and Jagson Airlines has already evinced interest in the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which the state is keen to promote through helitourism. The state government has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Gharwal Mandal Vikas and Pawan Hans Helicopter Services for developing religious tourism in the state.

Currently, the state has 64 helipads, of which 40 are controlled by the state government, while the rest are under the control of the Indo Tibetian Border Police Force (ITBP). Of the 40 state-owned helipads, 15 are still under construction.

News Source: http://www.travelbizmonitor.com

An ambitious plan by a great-grandson of Henry Ford to create an eco-friendly ski resort in the heart of the Himalaya is nearing reality after a three-year fight with Indian bureaucracy over the $350 million (£173 million) scheme.

Building of the Himalayan Ski Village, backed by Alfred Ford, the American billionaire, is due to start within six months after the Government approved a project report and prepared to clear an ecological impact assessment.

Final approval by the Environment Ministry is still required for the 115-acre luxury development at Manali, billed as the largest foreign investment in Indian tourism and the first planned mountain resort since the British built hill station retreats during the Raj. However, its promoters, who vow to put the state of Himachal Pradesh on the world tourism map, are confident enough to have begun talks with banks on initial debt funding of $70 million.

The promoters’ road to the old hippy hangout of Manali has been bumpy. Their plans have been attacked by environmentalists, politicians and even local gods. Concessions included allowing day-trippers to ski, restricting road-building and doing deals with village assemblies on drawing water.

John Sims, the project’s managing director, said: “It was extraordinarily difficult. [Indian tourism] is apparently open, but actually to get through the gauntlet of permissions is a most heartbreaking process.”

India has ski resorts at Gulmarg, in Kashmir, and Auli, in Uttaranchal, but their infrastructure and equipment are below international par. Himalayan Ski Village aims to offer well-heeled domestic and foreign tourists a five-star skiing experience at an all-year resort capable of hosting a Winter Olympic Games.

The development, modelled on American resorts such as Aspen and Vail, will have 700 hotel rooms, priced at $200 to $800 a night, conference facilities, shops, restaurants, an entertainment centre and a luxury spa. An extensive ski area will be served by a network of chairlifts and gondolas to an altitude of 4,300 metres. Its first skiers are expected in 2010.

Mr Sims said: “The Himalayas have a huge cachet. They’re awe-inspiring, spiritually moving and offer a different kind of experience. I think there is a big demand for that.”

Environmental campaigners have fought the scheme, which they say will displace 40,000 people and upset the scenic Kullu Valley’s fragile ecology.

The state government is set to net $7 million a year in tax from the resort. The project will employ more than 3,500 people, three quarters of them from nearby villages. Nearly 40 locals have been sent to Finland to train as ski instructors. Others are enrolled in a new hospitality management school. The project’s backers have pledged to repair and build temples, provide civic amenities, promote community tourism and use the latest energy-conservation technologies.

In the face of opposition from the valley gods – who, through an oracle, “advised” against the project – the promoters even talked up Mr Ford’s Hindu credentials. The American motor empire scion is married to an Indian, spurns meat and alcohol and is known as Ambarish Das among fellow devotees of Lord Krishna.

Passage to tourism

—The Himalaya are considered skiing’s final frontier. Despite the dangers (Kashmir is the one of the world’s most heavily militarised zones), adventurous skiers are drawn by the soaring peaks, plenty of powder and empty slopes

—Manali, a hill station close to the snowline, has become a popular base for heli-skiing, trekking and mountaineering. Nearly four million tourists visit the state of Himachal Pradesh each year and the number is rising by 15 per cent a year

—Foreign tourist arrivals to India last year hit a record 4.4 million, generating revenues of nearly $7 billion. India’s tourism industry is forecast to grow at 10 per cent a year for the next decade, to be worth $90 billion

—Indian tourism projects are open to foreign investment and enjoy a ten-year tax holiday. The sector is expected to attract more than $11 billion of investment over the next two years. Growth areas include medical tourism, wildlife tourism and pilgrimage tourism

Sources: India Tourism Ministry, IBEF, Times research

Online News Source: http://business.timesonline.co.uk

Emaar MGF, one of India’s leading premier real estate developers, on Wednesday signed an agreement with the Government of Uttarakhand, for designing, constructing and operating/ managing a five star hotel and convention centre in Dehradun. The five star hotel property and the convention centre is part of an integrated facility comprising retail and entertainment space spread across 10 acres of land and has been planned with an investment of Rs 200 crores over 2 years.

Emaar MGF has tied up with InterContinental Hotels Group, Singapore (world’s largest hotel company in terms of guest rooms) for the management of the hotel and convention centre. The international standard up-market hotel comprising 200 guest rooms will be managed under the ‘Holiday Inn’ brand. The state of the art convention facility, with collapsible seating and hi tech projection facilities, will be spread over 35,000 sq ft. and will be designed to accommodate over 1,200 people at any given time.

Detailing the partnership Mr. Sanjiv Rai, Chief Operating Officer, Hospitality, Emaar MGF said, “Uttarakhand is a crucial fulcrum of the country’s business and tourist growth map. As a strategic pivot within the northern region, Emaar MGF’s initial investment in the state will witness the establishment of a world-class hospitality, convention and retail facility, accelerating its positioning as a dynamic business and tourist hub. This will catalyse the development of the states economy and provide an impetus to generate additional revenue opportunities. We are glad to partner with the government to develop this landmark project in Dehradun which will serve as a benchmark for ensuing developments in the State. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank IL&FS and Uttaranchal Infrastructure Projects Company Limited for managing the process.”

He further added, “The Hyderabad International Convention Centre, the country’s first global standard convention centre has been built by Emaar, boasting cutting edge design and technology features. Our initiative in Dehradun is a reaffirmation of our vision towards creating a new India by developing world class real estate infrastructure that will spur socio-economic growth.”

Elaborating on the agreement, Mr. Prakash Pant, Tourism Minister, Government of Uttarakhand said, “Uttarakhand enjoys a strategic geographic advantage due to its abundant natural resource, scenic beauty and a unique ecosystem conducive to business growth. We believe this premium development spread across 10 acres will contribute towards developing the hospitality and convention infrastructure in the State Capital. Our partnership with Emaar MGF is the first instance of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) being undertaken in the State of Uttarakhand for the development of tourism and employment generation.

The project will be adequately supported by the current airport expansion and the growing demand for hotel rooms and meeting facilities induced by increased commercial development activity in Dehradun. Additionally, this project will also bring in lifestyle and entertainment options for the local populace.”

Shri Indu Kumar Pande, Principal Secretary and Infrastructural Development Commissioner and the Addl. Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand signing the Lease document on behalf of the State, said – “The project will go a long way in making Dehradun, with its proximity to Delhi, a destination for conventions and conferences as also provide facilities to the upmarket tourists.”

News Source: http://www.moneycontrol.com

The new tourism minister for Uttarakhand, Prakash Pant, has identified a two-pronged strategy to promote the state. To begin with, the state government has divided the tourist inflow into two segments – up-market and the mid market segments where the former not only includes the rich but also those with lack of time. It will accordingly promote its packages and products separately to these two segments.

As part of its strategy, the government has strategically decided to separate pilgrim tourism from the rest. According to Pant, the ministry wants tourism to drive the state’s economy. “We think it sensible to bifurcate the products because if we offer a product mix, chances are that individual products will lose their essence and exclusivity when offered to the tourist. That is why we chose to separate our pilgrim tourism, which we consider to be our strong point.”

The state believes that health tourism is its inherited attraction. To promote adventure tourism, the state is planning to develop artificial water skiing, besides looking at hosting the South Asian Federation Games. It is also looking at reviving the heritage rail tracks between Haridwar and Rishikesh. “We are planning to start a rail service between these two pilgrim destinations. Right now, we are working on the logistics,” the minister said. The state government is also pushing its air connectivity issues with the central government and planning to moot a mini hotel policy on the accommodation front.

News Source: http://www.expresstravelworld.com