Kahini Chakraborty – Mumbai
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Bhupinder S Bhalla
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The Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli have chalked out Vision2020 plan to re-introduce their tourism offerings and place themselves on the Incredible India map. With an aim to support this goal, the budget outlay for the union territories has been increased from Rs 660 crore in 2012-13 to Rs 1360 crore in the current financial year. Some of the plans to enhance tourism in the region include upgradation of tourist spots, beaches, garden, churches, restoration and conservation of monuments, restoration of Moti Daman fort, heritage walkway at Diu, setting up of a National Oceanarium at Diu and Bird Park at Daman and adding some new tourist attractions to the existing ones.
Bhupinder S Bhalla, administrator, Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli said the projects planned include: waterfront development, tourism promotion, improving connectivity, tourist recreation, hospitality education and basic infrastructure. He informed that Rs 80-90 crore has already been invested for the Daman Ganga river front project’s first phase development. The Pipariya riverfront development which was planned two years ago has received a sanction of Rs 30 crore in the first phase of development. Dudhni Lakefront project cost is Rs 1.10 crore for the first phase. The tourism department is also developing infrastructure at Nagoa beach and Chakratirth Beach in Diu. Besides this, the tourism department is also developing a floating musical fountain which will be installed at Dadra Lake and the project cost is Rs 9.90 crore. For the Van Garden upgradation the department is developing a pedestrian cable stayed bridge and the total project cost is Rs 11.01crore. The Nakshatra garden in Silvassa is to create awareness about religious plants which have significance in astrology. The total project cost for the same is Rs 3.65 crore.
Apart from this, Bhalla also highlighted that the department is looking at launching high speed catamaran from Mumbai to Diu. For the same, it plans to sign an MoU with Shipping Corporation of India. The 150 seater catamaran is expected to start operations by September 2015. Depending on the success and demand, the department will consider increasing the service. They have also identified land for heliport as there is huge demand from Silvassa to Mumbai.
When asked about the tourist arrivals to the destination, Bhalla said that the destination has received 26 lakh tourists upto last year. And with the many tourism development projects the department is looking at offering travellers added activities to increase their length of stay to three to four nights. “Our emphasis presently is on attracting domestic tourists and we will begin our promotional campaigns as well as work closely with travel agents. The destination has 6000 room inventory in both the union territories and with the rapid development taking place there have been a lot of hospitality investors who have shown keen interest in developing properties in the destination. We have earmarked land for the projects and are open to adopting a PPP model for infrastructure development,” he added.