Govt to facelift Kamakhya, Hajo to tap tourism potential

By A Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, July 9 – Assam being dotted with innumerable temples, mosques and monasteries, the State Government is focusing on the important pilgrimage centres to develop the places into attractive tourist destinations. The ambitious tourism development project of the State Government encompassing Kamakhya, the seat of Shakti worship and the satellite pilgrimage township of Hajo, is likely to be completed by July next year. The project undertaken by the tourism department with financial assistance from the Central Government is expected to give a total facelift to the pilgrimage township and open up new scope for the flourishing of religious tourism.Talking to The Assam Tribune, director of the department, Dilip Kumar Baruah said that infrastructure development was one of the prime concerns of the ongoing project. “The department is also giving attention to the beautification and improvement of the existing facilities,” said Baruah.Baruah informed that work at 14 locations in Hajo, covering the major pilgrimage spots has started. Poa Mecca, the holy place of the Muslim devotees and visited by people belonging to all faiths, will have a dormitory block at the estimated cost of Rs 29, 79,000. Infrastructure development work at Poa Mecca Mazhar is estimated at Rs 3, 91,000 and parking facilities at Poa Mecca is estimated at Rs 6, 71,000.Landscape development at another place redolent of mythology, the Behula Lakhindar Dhobi Ghat is estimated at Rs 12, 58,000. The proposed tourist facility centre at Pitkati Bill, Hajo is estimated at Rs 37, 75,000, and the work will include clearance of jungle, cleaning of water body, reclaiming of swampy land etc.Another major pilgrimage centre, the Hayagriba Madhaba Temple is also going to get a touch of beautification. The department has estimated the cost of beautification of the pond here at Rs 8, 39,000.The other spots selected under the project include the Bhimar Charia at the estimated cost of Rs 800089, Ganesh Temple at Rs 2, 52,000, parking area and pond development at Kedarnath Temple at Rs 800090 and Rs 10, 07,000 respectively and Nandi Temple at the estimated cost of Rs 1200133. It may be mentioned here that illumination work under the project is going on Kamakhya. “Along with infrastructure development, we need improvement in the connectivity front to exploit the tourism potential of the State to the optimum,” said Baruah. He further said that several measures have been taken to attract the unemployed youths to this sector to explore the wide business opportunities.

source: assam tribune