Nitish Sharma
Tribune News Service
Kurukshetra, October 27
Facing a shortage of manpower, the Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) has invited bids from private agencies to run the Tourist Information and Facilitation Centres in Kurukshetra.
To be opened on November 12
After getting approval from the higher authorities, tenders have been floated to hire agencies. The tenders will be opened on November 12. Anubhav Mehta, Chief Executive Officer, KDB
Centres to provide good services
Lakhs of tourists reach Kurukshetra to visit religious destinations every year from distant locations. The centres will help the board in providing good services and facilities to the tourists. They will also get the guide facility Mohan Chhabra, Honorary Secretary, KDB
The tourist information and facilitation centres were opened at three strategic locations at Pipli, near Gurdwara Chhati Patshahi and Brahma Sarovar at a cost of Rs 2 crore to facilitate tourists who reach Kurukshetra from across the country, but in the absence of manpower, the centres have been lying closed for nearly 19 months. A budget provided under the Krishna circuit was utilised in this project.
Since the International Gita Mahotsav is approaching, the board now wants to reopen all three centres at the earliest.
The centres were started a couple of years ago to give tourists information about the ‘tirthas’ situated in Kurukshetra. Initially, the KDB had agreed to run the centres but later, due to the lack of manpower, the board wanted the Tourism Department to run the centres. After discussing the issue with the Tourism Department, the board later moved a proposal to hire a private agency to run the centres, and after getting the nod from higher authorities the board has floated tenders, said an official.
Honorary secretary KDB Madan Mohan Chhabra said, “Lakhs of tourists reach Kurukshetra to visit religious destinations every year from distant locations. The centres will help the board in providing good services and facilities to the tourists. They will also get the guide facility.”
Chief Executive Officer KDB Anubhav Mehta told The Tribune, “After getting approval from the higher authorities, tenders have been floated to hire agencies. The tenders will be opened on November 12. The tourists will get facilities, including cloakroom, restroom, audio-video visual room where the tourists will be able to see informative videos about Kurukshetra, and canteen. All required infrastructure and furniture is already there and the agencies will maintain the centre besides providing all these facilities. It will also help in generating revenue for the board. All efforts are being made to resume the centres at the earliest as the International Gita Mahotsav is also approaching.”
Were to give info on ‘tirthas’
- The centres were started to give tourists information about the ‘tirthas’ situated in Kurukshetra.
- Initially, the KDB had agreed to run the centres, but later due to the lack of manpower, the board wanted the Tourism Department to run these
- After discussing the issue with Tourism Department, the KBD moved a proposal to hire a private agency to run the centres
